Bell 206L accident near Port Washington, New York, June 5, 1987
On June 5, 1987 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Bell 206L (helicopter), registered N120RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Washington, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1987 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Port Washington, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L · all 206Ls on the register
- Registration
- N120RM · registry record · serial 46608
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF A BELL 206L MADE A DOWNWIND TKOF WITH THE ACFT LOADED MORE THAN 100 LBS OVER THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS TKOF WEIGHT. AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROX 100 FT, WHILE COMPLYING WITH NOISE ABATEMENT TKOF PROCEDURES, THE PLT EXPERIENCED DECREASING MAIN ROTOR RPM AND A LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING HORN. HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE LNDG PAD, HOWEVER, LNDD 200 FT SHORT. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE AFTER STRIKING A PARKED CAR.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,301 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 2,301 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,320 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Paramont Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Port Washington NY at 8:19 pm
- Destination: East Hampton NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC87LA164.