Sikorsky S-76A and Sikorsky S-76A accident near Manhattan, New York, March 27, 1989
On March 27, 1989 at about 8:55 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Sikorsky S-76A (N760P) and Sikorsky S-76A (N586C), were involved in the same accident near Manhattan, New York (Wall St Heliport airport). 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 PILOT MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AND THE OTHER HELICOPTER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE LAYOUT (MARKINGS) OF THE HELIPORT PARKING AREA, INSUFFICIENT STANDARD/REQUIREMENT FOR NUMERICAL INDICATION OF MAXIMUM ROTOR DIAMETER ACCOMMODATIONS AT HELICOPTER PARKING FACILITIES, FAILURE OF THE UNICOM OPERATOR TO ADVISE THE PILOTS OF PARKING SPOTS THAT WERE DESIGNATED FOR LARGER (S-76) HELICOPTERS, AND PROXIMITY OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER.
THE PILOT OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER MISJUDGED CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AND THE OTHER HELICOPTER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: INADEQUATE LAYOUT (MARKINGS) OF THE HELIPORT PARKING AREA, INSUFFICIENT STANDARD/REQUIREMENT FOR NUMERICAL INDICATION OF MAXIMUM ROTOR DIAMETER ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE HELICOPTER PARKING FACILITIES. FAILURE OF THE UNICOM OPERATOR TO ADVISE THE PILOTS OF PARKING SPOTS THAT WERE DESIGNATED FOR LARGER (S-76) HELICOPTERS, AND THE PROXIMITY OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 1989 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Manhattan, New York · Wall St Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Sikorsky S-76A · all S-76As on the register
- Registration
- N760P · registry record · serial 760235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Sikorsky S-76A · all S-76As on the register
- Registration
- N586C · no longer on the register · serial 760074
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Sikorsky S-76A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF 2 SIKORSKY S-76A HELICOPTERS MADE CTC AT THE WALL STREET HELIPORT/PARKING BARGE, AS ONE (N586C)WAS PARKED IN SPOT 11 WITH THE ROTORS TURNING & THE OTHER (N760P) LNDD IN SPOT 12. THE PLTS OF N586C HAD LNDD 7 MINEARLIER & WERE WAITING FOR PAX. THE UNICOM OPERATOR SAID THAT AS N760P WAS ARRIVING, HE TOLD THE PLTS THERE WAS ANOTHERHELICOPTER 'TURNING ON SPOT 11 & TO PARK ALONG SIDE THEM AT THEIR DISCRETION.' AN INV REVEALED THE BARGE HAD 12 PARKINGSPOTS. THE PADS AT SPOTS 4, 5 & 6 WERE DESIGNATED FOR S-76 HELICOPTERS & MEASURED 57'. THE OTHER PARKING SPOTS WERE FORBELL 222'S & WERE 45' APART. THE MAIN ROTOR SPAN OF AN S-76 WAS 44'. N586C WAS PARKED ABT 4' LEFT OF SPOT 11'S CENTER-LINE. AS N760P LNDD IN THE CENTER OF SPOT 12 (LEFT OF SPOT 11), THE ROTOR BLADES INTERMESHED. NEITHER CREW WAS ADZD THATSPOTS 4, 5 & 6 WERE FOR LARGER (S-76) HELICOPTERS. EXISTING FAA ADVISORIES FOR HELIPORTS DID NOT PROVIDE FOR MARKINGSTO INDICATE THE MAXIMUM ROTOR DIAMETER ACCEPTABLE FOR DESIGNATED PARKING AREAS.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Sikorsky S-76A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF 2 SIKORSKY S-76A HELICOPTERS MADE CTC AT THE WALL STREET HELIPORT/PARKING BARGE, AS ONE (N586C)WAS PARKED IN SPOT 11 WITH THE ROTORS TURNING & THE OTHER (N760P) LNDD IN SPOT 12. THE PLTS OF N586C HAD LNDD 7 MINEARLIER & WERE WAITING FOR PAX. THE UNICOM OPERATOR SAID THAT AS N760P WAS ARRIVING, HE TOLD THE PLTS THERE WAS ANOTHERHELICOPTER 'TURNING ON SPOT 11 & TO PARK ALONG SIDE THEM AT THEIR DISCRETION.' AN INV REVEALED THE BARGE HAD 12 PARKINGSPOTS. THE PADS AT SPOTS 4, 5 & 6 WERE DESIGNATED FOR S-76 HELICOPTERS & MEASURED 57'. THE OTHER PARKING SPOTS WERE FORBELL 222'S & WERE 45' APART. THE MAIN ROTOR SPAN OF AN S-76 WAS 44'. N586C WAS PARKED ABT 4' LEFT OF SPOT 11'S CENTER-LINE. AS N760P LNDD IN THE CENTER OF SPOT 12 (LEFT OF SPOT 11), THE ROTOR BLADES INTERMESHED, NEITHER CREW WAS ADZD THATSPOTS 4, 5 & 6 WERE FOR LARGER (S-76) HELICOPTERS. EXISTING FAA ADVISORIES FOR HELIPORTS DID NOT PROVIDE FOR MARKINGSTO INDICATE THE MAXIMUM ROTOR DIAMETER ACCEPTABLE FOR DESIGNATED PARKING AREAS.
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 for the Sikorsky S-76A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,500 hours in all; 1,950 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,438 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 11, 1989; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,300 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C30S (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Armonk NY at 8:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from LGA, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Sikorsky S-76A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,900 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,287 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 6, 1989; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,300 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-C305 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Executive Air Fleet
The flight
- Departed from: TEB Teterboro NJ at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
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.