Bell 206-L accident near Wading River, New York, May 31, 1989
On May 31, 1989 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Bell 206-L (helicopter), registered N501RS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wading River, New York. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A POWER LOSS DUE TO A COMPRESSOR FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1989 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Wading River, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-L · all 206-Ls on the register
- Registration
- N501RS · registry record · serial 45050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A POWERLINE PATROL, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING NEAR AN ELECTRIC PLANT IN WADING RIVER. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER COMPLETING A 180 DEGREE TURN HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE ENGINE OUT LIGHT ILLUMINATED; THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN POWER WAS ADDED. HE SAID HE ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION WHILE TURNING TOWARD AN OPEN AREA. AT TOUCHDOWN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWN AND CHOPPED THE REAR PORTION OF THE TAIL BOOM. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN WAS PERFORMED AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS COMPRESSOR FAILURE.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,550 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 4,295 as pilot in command; 2,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,641 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 25, 1989; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Helicopter CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.