Aerospatiale SA316B N8624

Summary

On 26 October 1984 at about 17:05 local time, a Aerospatiale SA316B registered N8624, operated by NOR West Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Lima, Montana, United States. 5 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

26 October 1984 at 17:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Lima, Montana, United States

Coordinates

44.6102, -112.2702

Aircraft

Aerospatiale SA316B

Registration

N8624

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

NOR West Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN85LA020

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

APRX 35 MIN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE SEISMIC OPERATIONS BEING CONDUCTED ABOUT 10 MI NE WERE SECURED DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND HIGH WINDS. THE PLT ESTIMATED WIND TO HAVE BEEN FROM 180 DEG AT 40 KTS GUSTING TO 60. AS THE PLT APPROACHED THE LANDING ZONE DOWNWIND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE AND THE PLT BEGAN A RIGHT TURN INTO THE WIND. ACCORDING TO THE PLT AT APRX 75 FT AGL HE BEGAN TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE ACFT. NEARING THE GROUND HE PULLED ALL AVAILABLE COLLECTIVE PITCH BUT COULD NOT CONTROL THE SINK RATE. ON CONTACT WITH THE GROUND THE TAIL SPUN 20 TO 30 DEG TO THE LEFT AND THE ACFT ROLLED OVER ONTO IT'S RIGHT SIDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.