Aerospatiale SA315B N65185

Summary

On 18 April 1988 at about 01:50 local time, a Aerospatiale SA315B registered N65185, operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Near Central, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

18 April 1988 at 01:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Near Central, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

65.4697, -145.1906

Aircraft

Aerospatiale SA315B

Registration

N65185

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Rocky Mountain Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC88LA046

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

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND LANDED AT THE 'HOT' REFUELING SITE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HELICOPTER FOR A CREW CHANGE. THE HOT REFUELING LANDING PAD CONSISTED OF A BLACK MEMBRANE WITH BUNDLES OF LATHS PLACED PERPENDICULAR TO THE HELICOPTER'S SKIDS TO PREVENT THE SKIDS FROM PUNCTURING THE MEMBRANE. THE PILOT LANDED ON THESE LATHS AND FRICTIONED THE CONTROLS DOWN AND LEFT THE ENGINE AND ROTOR BLADES OPERATING AT FULL RPM. WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HELICOPTER IT SHIFTED REARWARD. HE JUMPED BACK IN THE SEAT ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF THE GROUND, TURNED 180 DEGREES, AND CRASHED. THE REFUELER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.