Aerospatiale SA315B N49525
22 August 1998 · Naturita, Colorado, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 22 August 1998 at about 22:30 local time, a Aerospatiale SA315B registered N49525, operated by Geo-Seis, was involved in an accident near Naturita, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one 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 22:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Naturita, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.2097, -108.5601
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA315B
- Registration
- N49525
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Geo-Seis
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Nucla → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW98LA367
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
Partial loss of engine power resulting from heat induced deterioration of the gas generator turbine. Factors were a forced landing in hilly unsuitable terrain containing mature trees.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While approaching a hover during external load operations carrying a 1,200-pound compressor, the engine lost partial power and the pilot conducted an emergency landing without releasing the load due to proximity of ground personnel. The landing was hard, in trees, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The pilot received serious injuries. Examination of the engine provided evidence of overheat in the turbine area and both the stator and turbine blades were eroded with the turbine blades eroded about 1/3 of their length. The fuel control and fuel pump were tested and operated within normal parameters. No evidence was found to explain the cause of the overheat.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale SA315B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 1997 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Whiteville, North Carolina, United States | Gold Kist, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jun 1996 | Aerospatiale SA315B | La Peruanita, Peru | Helica del Peru, S.a. | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Mar 2000 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Springfield, Georgia, United States | Southern States Cooperative | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 2001 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Cody, Wyoming, United States | Geo-Seis Helicopters Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 2002 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Estes Park, Colorado, United States | Geo-Seis Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 Apr 1992 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Magna, Utah, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopters Inc | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Aug 1998 | Mooney M20F | Fort Collins, Colorado, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 28 Jan 1998 | Aviat A-1 | Buena Vista, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jan 1998 | Cessna 182E | Steamboat Sprng, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Nov 1998 | Champion 7GCAA | Aurora, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Feb 1998 | Beechcraft 23 | Colorado Sprngs, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Feb 1998 | Enstrom F-28C-2 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |