Aerospatiale AS350D accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts, July 28, 1987
On July 28, 1987 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS350D (helicopter), registered N350AP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 28, 1987 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Nantucket, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350D · all AS350Ds on the register
- Registration
- N350AP · no longer on the register · serial 1252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS ENROUTE FROM NANTUCKET TO HYANNIS WHEN THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY A SEVERE VIBRATION, LOSS OF POWER TO THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM, AND A LOSS OF HYDRAULIC PRESSURE. THE HELICOPTER MADE AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING IN WATER ABOUT 25 FEET IN FRONT OF A FISHING BOAT AND 8 MILES NORTH OF NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS, WHILE ON A BUSINESS FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER EMERGENCY FLOATS WERE AT THE FACTORY BEING REPAIRED. THE PILOT EXITED WITH MINOR INJURIES AND THE HELICOPTER SANK INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. THE HELICOPTER WAS RECOVERED FROM THE WATER. THE ENGINE TO THE MAIN ROTOR GEARBOX DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY AND A GIMBAL JOINT ASSEMBLY WERE EXAMINED IN THE NTSB MATERIALS LABORATORY. THE MAJORITY OF THE DAMAGE OCCURRED IN THE AREA OF THE FORWARD FLEXIBLE COUPLING. THE INTERNAL SURFACES OF THE JUNCTION CASE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERE ROTATIONAL DAMAGE IN THE VICINITY OF THE GIMBAL JOINT PIVOT POINTS. THE DAMAGE INCLUDED DEEP CIRCUMFERENTIAL CHANNELS CUT INTO THE CASE AND SEVERE HEATING/FRETTING.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,249 hours in all; 553 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 4,899 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,280 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101-60DA2 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACK Nantucket MA at 9:25 pm
- Destination: HYA Hyannis MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 20 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 N350AP 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.