Aerospatiale SA315B N57948
19 October 2012 · Helena, Oklahoma, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 19 October 2012 at about 15:00 local time, a Aerospatiale SA315B registered N57948, operated by Trans Aero Limited, was involved in an accident near Helena, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and nobody was 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 15:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Helena, Oklahoma, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.5464, -98.2706
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA315B
- Registration
- N57948
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Trans Aero Limited
- Operating rule
- Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
- Purpose of flight
- External Load
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Helena → Helena
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN13CA027
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly secure the cyclic and to stop the main rotor system before exiting the helicopter, which resulted in the main rotor blades striking the tail rotor driveshaft.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was performing external load operations and landed the helicopter to reset a cone that had blown over by the wind. After landing, the pilot reduced the engine power to idle and exited the helicopter. While walking away from the helicopter, the pilot heard a bang and noticed the main rotor blades had contacted the tail boom area. The pilot ran back to the helicopter and pushed the cyclic, which was in the full aft position, forward. The pilot estimated the wind to be 18 knots, gusting to 24 knots, and reported that he did not properly set the cyclic friction lock before departing the helicopter. Examination of the helicopter showed the tail rotor driveshaft had separated from the helicopter. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. According to the flight manual, the rotor brake should be applied to stop the main rotor system prior to exiting the helicopter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale SA315B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Mar 2007 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Norwood, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Sep 2005 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Duchesne, Utah, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 2002 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Estes Park, Colorado, United States | Geo-Seis Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Jul 2001 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Cody, Wyoming, United States | Geo-Seis Helicopters Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Mar 2000 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Springfield, Georgia, United States | Southern States Cooperative | No injuries | - |
| 2 May 2024 | Aerospatiale SA315B | Lewiston, Idaho, United States | Essential Flight Operations LLC | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov 2012 | Cessna 208B | Bryans Corner, Oklahoma, United States | Martinaire Aviation LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Mar 2012 | Skeeter 1M | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Jul 2012 | Piper PA-18-150 | Jenks, Oklahoma, United States | Kirby H Crowe | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2012 | Mooney M20F | Hooker, Oklahoma, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Apr 2012 | Eurocopter AS 350 B2 | Hugo, Oklahoma, United States | Eagle MED LLC | No injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 2012 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Goldsby, Oklahoma, United States | University of Oklahoma | No injuries | - |