Aerospatiale SA316B N3153R
1 April 1993 · Aspen, Colorado, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 1 April 1993 at about 23:15 local time, a Aerospatiale SA316B registered N3153R, operated by Sea Pacific, Inc., was involved in an accident near Aspen, Colorado, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Aspen, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.1905, -106.8196
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA316B
- Registration
- N3153R
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Sea Pacific, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Irwin Lodge → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN93FA038
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL LOWER MIXING UNIT DUE TO FATIGUE, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF 150 TO 200 FEET AGL, THE SURVIVING PASSENGER HEARD ABNORMAL SOUNDS FROM THE HELICOPTER WHICH THEN BEGAN A DESCENDING RIGHT BANK INTO TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER DISCLOSED FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LOWER MIXING UNIT AND A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE UPPER MIXING UNIT ON THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale SA316B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1993 | Aerospatiale SA316B | Snyder, Texas, United States | Geo-Seis Helicopters, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 1994 | Aerospatiale SA316B | Stateline, Nevada, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1990 | Aerospatiale SA316B | Meeteetse, Wyoming, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopter | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Dec 1990 | Aerospatiale SA316B | Vernal, Utah, United States | Avman Aviation Helicopter SVC | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Nov 1989 | Aerospatiale SA316B | Park City, Utah, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 28 Oct 1997 | Aerospatiale SA316B | Counselor, New Mexico, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct 1993 | Cessna 172F | Co. Springs, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1993 | Beechcraft A36TC | Pueblo, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Nov 1993 | Bellanca BL17-31ATC | Pagosa Springs, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1993 | Cessna 210 | Monte Vista, Colorado, United States | Anderson, Robert W. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Nov 1993 | Cessna R172K | Mancos, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Nov 1993 | Cessna A185F | Maybell, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |