Aerospatiale SA316B accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1986
On April 5, 1986 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA316B (helicopter), registered N2354, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Allegheny Gen'L Hospital airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- April 5, 1986 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Allegheny Gen'L Hospital · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA316B
- Registration
- N2354 · no longer on the register · serial 1587
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND LIFTED OFF THE HELIPAD VERTICALLY TO AN ALTITUDE OF 30 FEET AT WHICH TIME HE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS. HE BACKED UP THE HELICOPTER 20 FEET AND ALLOWED IT TO YAW TO THE RIGHT AS IT DESCENDED TO THE HELIPAD. HE LANDED ON THE HELIPAD HARD WITH LOW ROTOR RPM. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE GEAR AND SPLINE ASSEMBLY IN THE REDUCTION GEARBOX HAD STRIPPED THEREBY DISCONNECTING THE GEARBOX FROM THE TURBINE SECTION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,376 hours in all; 381 in this make and model; 88 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,206 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Clearfield PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; not recorded at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.