On June 25, 1986, an Enstrom F-28A (registration N149Q) was involved in an aviation accident near New York, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control during a go-around due to excessive groundspeed and gusty wind conditions, resulting in a rapid descent and water impact. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter descended rapidly and contacted water during a go-around due to excessive groundspeed and gusty winds, rolling onto its left side.
What happened
The pilot initiated a go-around following the first landing attempt, citing an excessive groundspeed during the approach. As the aircraft prepared for the second landing approach over the helipad, the pilot applied upward collective pitch to terminate the descent. Immediately after this control input, the helicopter began to descend rapidly. The aircraft subsequently contacted the water while maintaining a level attitude. Upon impact with the water surface, the helicopter rolled onto its left side.
The investigation
Investigation of the incident revealed that gusty wind conditions were present at the time of the accident. These environmental factors likely contributed to the difficulty in controlling the aircraft's descent rate during the critical phase of the go-around maneuver.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control during a go-around due to excessive groundspeed and gusty wind conditions, resulting in a rapid descent and water impact.