Aerospatiale SA-360C accident near Newark, New Jersey, December 27, 1983
On December 27, 1983 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA-360C (helicopter), registered N360CP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newark, New Jersey (Newark Int'L. airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 7 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1983 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Newark, New Jersey · Newark Int'L.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 7 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-360C
- Registration
- N360CP · registry record · serial 1029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER ARRIVED AT THE NEWARK INTL ARPT AT 1531 AFTER AN UNEVENTFUL FLT FROM NEW YORK, NY WITH 2 EN ROUTE STOPS. AT 1540, THE PLT TAXIED FROM THE PASSENGER GATE FOR DEPARTURE. ACCORDING TO HIM, HE HAD NO CONTROL PROBLEMS, WHILE TAXIING. HE CHECKED THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL BEFORE STARTING HIS TAKEOFF & SAW NO WARNING LIGHTS. COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS INCREASED TO REDUCE WEIGHT ON THE GEAR, FOLLOWED BY FURTHER PITCH INCREASE TO OBTAIN A HOVER. AT THAT TIME, THE CYCLIC CONTROL MOVED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT & WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE PLT APPLIED RIGHT CYCLIC & DECREASED THE COLLECTIVE; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ROLL LEFT. THE HELICOPTER THEN HOPPED ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR 3 TIMES & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HIT THE PAVEMENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. AN EXAM & FUNCTIONAL TEST OF THE FLT CONTROL HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS REVEALED NO REASON FOR THE MALFUNCTION.THE TEMP WAS BELOW FREEZING (29 DEG), BUT NO SYSTEM ICING WAS FOUND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,483 hours in all; 1,615 in this make and model; 173 in the last 90 days; 4,238 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,507 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 9, 1983; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,400 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ASTAZOU (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 6N5 New York City
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,500 ft; not recorded at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from EWR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 6 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.