Aerospatiale SA315B LAMA N36012

Summary

On 8 November 1990 at about 22:00 local time, a Aerospatiale SA315B LAMA registered N36012, operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Trout Lake, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 November 1990 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Trout Lake, Washington, United States

Coordinates

45.9693, -121.5291

Aircraft

Aerospatiale SA315B LAMA

Registration

N36012

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Rocky Mountain Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA91LA013

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM AN OBSTACLE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION, THE PILOT HAD JUST RELEASED A LOAD OF LOGS WHEN THE HELICOPTER DRIFTED TO ONE SIDE AND THE LONG LINE BECAME ENTANGLED IN TREES. THE PILOT RELEASED THE LONG LINE BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AS THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE HELICOPTER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.