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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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November 8, 1990 · Aerospatiale SA315B LAMA SA315B LAM · N36012

Trout Lake, WA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 8, 1990
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Trout Lake, WA
Aircraft
Aerospatiale SA315B LAMA SA315B LAM
Tail Number
N36012
Operator
Rocky Mountain Helicopters
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA91LA013

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.

NTSB Probable Cause

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

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale SA315B LAMA SA315B LAM
Tail NumberN36012
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRocky Mountain Helicopters
Operating RulePart 133
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsTurbomeca · ARTOUSTE IIIB · Turboshaft · 853
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 46 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 25 kt
Visibility1 sm
CeilingOvercast 500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 39 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data