Aerospatiale SA-315B N37903
6 April 1990 · Trading Bay, Alaska, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 6 April 1990 at about 01:55 local time, a Aerospatiale SA-315B registered N37903, operated by Nthrn Geophysical of America, was involved in an accident near Trading Bay, Alaska, United States. 5 people were on board and 4 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Trading Bay, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-315B
- Registration
- N37903
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Nthrn Geophysical of America
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Drift River → Granite Point
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC90LA045
People
4 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SNOW COVERED TERRAIN, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT, DUE TO LACK OF VISUAL CURE DURING THE LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN HE TOOK OFF, THERE WAS 1-1/2 TO 2 MI VIS WITH LIGHT SNOW. ABOUT 5 MIN LATER, HE ENCOUNTERED WHITEOUT CONDITIONS & INITIATED A LANDING. HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHDOWN HARD & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM, WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale SA-315B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Aug 1990 | Aerospatiale SA-315B | Tok, Alaska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Jul 1988 | Aerospatiale SA-315B | Dubois, Wyoming, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopters, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Sep 1993 | Aerospatiale SA 315B | Avery, Idaho, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Jun 1984 | Aerospatiale SA-315B | Salina, Utah, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Dec 1996 | Aerospatiale SA-315B | Sapahwa, Peru | Helica del Peru | No injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1983 | Aerospatiale SA-315B | Montpelier, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 1990 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B | Juneau, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1990 | Stinson 108 | Cold Foot, Alaska, United States | Beyers, David W. | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1990 | Piper PA-22 | Igiugig, Alaska, United States | Robert Bumbaugh | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 1990 | Bellanca 8GCBC | Ivishak River, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1990 | Artic S1B2 | Talkeetna, Alaska, United States | Jenne, Eugene F. | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 1990 | Cessna 185 | Nenana, Alaska, United States | Clifton, Jesse | No injuries | - |