NEW YORK, NY, USA
N16696
BELL 206L
N49575
BELL 206L
THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED TWO BELL 206L HELICOPTERS THAT WERE PARKED BESIDE ONE ANOTHER, BUT HEADED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, ONE OF THE HELICOPTERS, N16696, WAS OPERATING WITH THE ROTORS AT ABOUT 60% RPM (FLIGHT IDLE) WHILE PASSENGERS WERE BEING LOADED. MEANWHILE, THE PILOT OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER, N49575, ARRIVED, UNTIED THE ROTOR, AND STARTED THE ENGINE. WHEN N49575 WAS STARTED, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF THE TWO HELICOPTERS COLLIDED. A PASSENGER THAT WAS BEING BOARDED ON N16696 AND A RAMP ATTENDANT WERE INJURED BY FLYING DEBRIS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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