Sikorsky S-76 incident near Atlantic City, New Jersey, March 20, 1986
On March 20, 1986 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-76 (helicopter), registered N38, suffered minor damage in an incident near Atlantic City, New Jersey (Atlantic City airport). It was an instructional 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 incident. 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
- March 20, 1986 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic City, New Jersey · Atlantic City
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-76 · all S-76s on the register
- Registration
- N38 · no longer on the register · serial 760087
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PREFLIGHT EXAMINATION OF A SIKORSKY S76 THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE LEADING EDGE OF THE PYLON ABOVE THE INTERMEDIATE GEAR BOX AND SCUFF MARK ON THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE CAPS. THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT HAD JUST COMPLETED A 2.1 HR TRAINING SESSION THAT CONSISTED OF 18 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS, AND WERE ABOUT TO BEGIN A SECOND SESSION WHEN THE DAMAGE WAS DISCOVERED. THE TIME OF DAMAGE OCCURRENCE IS UNKNOWN.
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: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,639 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days; 4,185 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 870 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-30-S (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACY Atlantic City NJ at 3:52 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; scat
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.