Aerospatiale SA315B N402AH
23 May 1990 · La Sal, Utah, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 23 May 1990 at about 19:00 local time, a Aerospatiale SA315B registered N402AH, operated by GEO - Seis Helicopters, Inc, was involved in an accident near La Sal, Utah, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. 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 19:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- La Sal, Utah, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.2307, -109.1701
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA315B
- Registration
- N402AH
- 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
- Route
- Durango → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN90FA115
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A FAILURE OF THE ENGINE SPEED GOVERNOR UNIT DUE TO IMPROPER STORAGE AND/OR INSPECTION OF THE SPEED GOVERNOR UNIT PRIOR TO PLACING IT IN SERVICE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT CARRYING PASSENGERS ON THE EXTERNAL LOAD.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS CONDUCTING LONG LINE OPERATIONS CARRYING A LOAD OF EQUIPMENT PLUS TWO PASSENGERS ON THE LOAD. THE ENGINE DECELERATED TO IDLE NECESSITATING A FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO SETTLE UNTIL THE LOAD HIT THE GROUND IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR HIS PASSENGERS. WHEN THE LOAD HIT THE GROUND HE JETTISONED AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO COMPLETE AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. LOW ROTOR RPM PREVENTED A SUCCESSFUL LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED INTERNAL CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL GOVERNOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale SA315B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Nov 1990 | Aerospatiale SA315B LAMA | Trout Lake, Washington, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1990 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Cougar, Washington, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 1988 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Near Central, Alaska, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopters Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 1988 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Oakridge, Oregon, United States | Gradney Helicopters, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1992 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Magna, Utah, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopters Inc | No injuries | - |
| 20 Feb 1986 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Meeker, Colorado, United States | Colorado Airlift, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Apr 1990 | Schweizer SGS 2-33A | Morgan, Utah, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1990 | Cessna 172XP | Hurricane, Utah, United States | Mark/Lavinia Besolo | No injuries | - |
| 23 Apr 1990 | Piper PA-28-181 | Bountiful, Utah, United States | Stead, Robert T. | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 May 1990 | Cessna 205 | Bluff, Utah, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1990 | Cessna 152 | Delta, Utah, United States | Central Utah Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 May 1990 | Luscombe 8F | Morgan, Utah, United States | Douglas H. Harris | No injuries | - |