Sikorsky S-76A accident near Hartford, Connecticut, July 14, 1985
On July 14, 1985 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-76A (helicopter), registered N3124L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hartford, Connecticut. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 14, 1985 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-76A · all S-76As on the register
- Registration
- N3124L · no longer on the register · serial 760-228
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE APCH TO THE PVT HELIPAD WAS UNEVENTFUL UP TO THE LAST 100 FT WHERE THE PLTS NOTICED A HIGH SINK RATE. THE PLT INCREASED COLLECTIVE TO CORRECT FOR THE SITUATION. AT ABOUT 20 FT FROM TOUCHDOWN POINT THE PLT NOTICED A DECREASE IN RPM AND REALIZED THAT THEY WERE LOSING PWR. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE TAIL CONE CONTACTED THE EDGE OF THE HELIPAD DAMAGING THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. THE PLT SHUT THE ACFT DOWN ACCORDING TO NORMAL PROCEDURES. THE DROOP COMPENSATORS WERE BEING EXAMINED BY THE CORPORATION.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,100 hours in all; 1,900 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 7,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 836 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,000 lb
- Seats: 14
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C30 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EHT E. Hartford CT at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from HFD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N3124L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.