Bell 206B accident near Harding Twnp, New Jersey, February 23, 1989
On February 23, 1989 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N5754J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harding Twnp, New Jersey. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS ATTEMPT TO CONDUCT THE FLIGHT WITH LESS THAN REQUIRED FUEL RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER WHILE PERFORMING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1989 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Harding Twnp, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5754J · no longer on the register · serial 3119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE APPROACHING THE ARPT THE ENG BEGAN TO SURGE. THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY OFF APRT LANDING. DURING TOUCHDOWN ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE FROM AN AUTOROTATION, THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM. POST CRASH EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE ENG WAS OPERATED WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE PLT STATED HE HAD DEPARTED APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER HAD 50 GALLONS OF FUEL AT DEPARTURE AND ACCORDING TO BELL HELICOPTER THE HELICOPTER BURNS 25 GALLONS PER HOUR. ACCORDING TO A BELL HELICOPTER REPRESENTATIVE, FUEL STARVATION COULD OCCUR WITH UP TO 10 GALLONS OF FUEL IF THE BOOST PUMPS ARE NOT USED.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,625 hours in all; 3,800 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 5,745 as pilot in command; 205 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,312 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 15, 1989; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison A250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Millington Quarry, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: York PA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: MMU Morristown NJ
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.