ISLAND BEACH, NJ, USA
N5784M
AEROSPATIALE AS-350D
THE ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLT DEPARTED FOR GARDEN CITY WITH ONE PAX. THE REPORTED WEATHER AT THE APRX TIME OF THE ACCIDENT INDICATED LOW CLOUDS, THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY INCLUDING RAIN AND LIGHTING. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 60 TO 80 FEET ABOVE THE WATER. THE HELICOPTER WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY ON THE BEACH. THE FLT HAD DELAYED ITS DEPARTUE FROM BADER AFTER A LATE SPECIAL FLT TO ACCOMIDATE ITS PAX. AT THE REQUEST OF THE PAX THE CREW DELAYED THEIR FINAL DEPARTURE OF THE FLT. LATER IN THE TERMINAL THIS DECISION WAS CHANGED AFTER THE CREW CHECKED THE WX. THE CREW PREVAILED UPON THE PAX TO ALLOW AN IMMEDIATE DEPARTURE DUE TO DETERIORATING WX. SHORTLY AFTER THEIR DEPARTURE A PHONE CALL FROM RACO WAS RECEIVED BY THE BADER DISPATCHER INQUIRING ABOUT THE FLT AND ADVISING THEM TO CANCEL DEPARTURE BECAUSE OF THE WX. THIS CALL REPORTEDLY CAME IN BET 0200-0230. WITNESS STATEMENTS VARYON TIMES CONCERNING THE FLT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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