Probable cause
The pilot’s overcontrolling of the helicopter during an aborted slope landing from a hover, which resulted in a main rotor blade strike.
NTSB analysis
The pilot was landing the helicopter on a nose-up slope when he "noticed the helicopter started to tilt aft." As the pilot "immediately" increased collective pitch and applied forward cyclic to abort the landing, three of the four main rotor blades struck the wire strike protection system on the cabin roof, which resulted in substantial damage to the blades. Representatives from the helicopter manufacturer examined the helicopter, replaced the three damaged rotor blades, and then returned the helicopter to service. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter that would have prevented normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA16CA313 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 1, 2016
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Rikers Island, New York
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 429
- N-number
- N917PD
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 2013
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Public aircraft
- Purpose of flight
- Public aircraft
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.