Sikorsky SK-76 accident near White Plains, New York, September 9, 1986
On September 9, 1986 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Sikorsky SK-76 (helicopter), registered N93AE, was substantially damaged in an accident near White Plains, New York (White Plains airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- September 9, 1986 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- White Plains, New York · White Plains
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky SK-76
- Registration
- N93AE · no longer on the register · serial 760322
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APRX 12 SECONDS AFTER TAKEOFF WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 400 FT THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A TAIL ROTOR PADDLE SEPARATION. THE YELLOW PADDLE BLADE FAILED FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE RED. THE PLT REPORTED HEARING A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY A SEVERE VIBRATION. A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT INCIDENT. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE COMPLETE PADDLE SPAR HAD FAILED AND SEPARATED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A BIRD STRIKE OR FOD DAMAGE. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLT AFTER THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED.
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; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 7,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 1986; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT-6B-36 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HPN White Plains NY at 8:20 pm
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.