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NTSB Report
October 4, 1988 · Aerospatiale SA341G · N401S
Fields, OR
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 4, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Fields, OR
Aircraft
Aerospatiale SA341G
Tail Number
N401S
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA89LA007
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS HE WAS IN A SLOW DESCENDING TURN TO THE LEFT AT ABOUT 20 KTS (TRANSLATIONAL LIFT). THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY ROTATED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. HE ESTIMATED THAT THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL. HE APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL & THE ROTATION STOPPED IN A SLIGHT NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AFTER ABOUT 2 TURNS. ALSO, THE PLT NOTICED THAT THE ENG WAS NOT PROVIDING POWER; HE PRESUMED THE FUEL LIMITER HAD RESTRICTED THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENG, CAUSING A REDUCTION OF POWER. BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT APPLIED COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION THE LANDING, BUT THE RIGHT SKID WAS DAMAGED & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD & CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM. THE DENSITY ALT WAS COMPUTED TO BE NEAR 6000 FT.
Full Narrative
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS HE WAS IN A SLOW DESCENDING TURN TO THE LEFT AT ABOUT 20 KTS (TRANSLATIONAL LIFT). THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY ROTATED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. HE ESTIMATED THAT THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL. HE APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL & THE ROTATION STOPPED IN A SLIGHT NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AFTER ABOUT 2 TURNS. ALSO, THE PLT NOTICED THAT THE ENG WAS NOT PROVIDING POWER; HE PRESUMED THE FUEL LIMITER HAD RESTRICTED THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENG, CAUSING A REDUCTION OF POWER. BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT APPLIED COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION THE LANDING, BUT THE RIGHT SKID WAS DAMAGED & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD & CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM. THE DENSITY ALT WAS COMPUTED TO BE NEAR 6000 FT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:00 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftAerospatiale SA341G
Tail NumberN401S
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsTurbomeca · ASTAZOU III A · Turboshaft · 500
Seats5
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO