Bell 206-BIII accident near New York, New York, July 6, 1995
On July 6, 1995 at about 2:02 pm local time, a Bell 206-BIII (helicopter), registered N206GS, was substantially damaged in an accident near New York, New York (West 30Th Street Heliport airport). It was a positioning 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 pilot' inadequate preflight inspection. A factor was the pilot's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1995 · about 2:02 pm local time
- Place
- New York, New York · West 30Th Street Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206-BIII · all 206-BIIIs on the register
- Registration
- N206GS · registry record · serial 1663
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STARTED THE ENGINE WITH ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIED DOWN. AS THE ENGINE ACCELERATED, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE WAS NOT TURNING AND ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE START; HOWEVER, AT THAT INSTANT, THE HELICOPTER, '...JUMPED INTO THE AIR AND YAWED VIOLENTLY....' THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE HAD FRACTURED AND THE TIE DOWN HOOK ON THE END OF THE BLADE WAS STRAIGHTENED. THE REAR CROSS TUBE WAS DRIVEN INTO THE LOWER FUSELAGE AND RUPTURED THE FUEL TANK. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS DISTRACTED BY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE IMPENDING FLIGHT.
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,906 hours in all; 1,900 in this make and model; 248 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 4,681 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,283 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1995; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gold Star Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: JRA
- Destination: H246 Long Branch NJ
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.