Aerospatiale SA316B N3154Y

Summary

On 4 July 1993 at about 14:30 local time, a Aerospatiale SA316B registered N3154Y, operated by Geo-Seis Helicopters, Inc, was involved in an accident near Snyder, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 July 1993 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Snyder, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.7110, -100.9098

Aircraft

Aerospatiale SA316B

Registration

N3154Y

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Geo-Seis Helicopters, Inc

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW93LA203

1 person was seriously injured.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL THROUGH LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. FACTORS WERE HIGH WINDS, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND FAILURE TO JETTISON THE EXTERNAL LOAD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE CONDUCTING A SEISMOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT DROP UTILIZING A CAROUSEL AND 50 FOOT LONG LINE, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A LEFT TURN AND DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND FOLLOWING THE FIRST DROP. DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000 FEET, WINDS WERE GREATER THAN 25 KNOTS FROM THE SOUTH AND THE HELICOPTER WAS WORKING GENERALLY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH ALONG A GRID PATTERN. THE AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT WAS 400 POUNDS BELOW MAXIMUM CERTIFIED GROSS WEIGHT, AND EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.