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NTSB Report
March 17, 1986 · Aerospatiale AS-350D · N88GT
Tahoe Valley, CA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 17, 1986
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (5 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Tahoe Valley, CA
Aircraft
Aerospatiale AS-350D
Tail Number
N88GT
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX86LA143
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CRASHED IN ROUGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS SHUTTLING SKIERS FROM A LANDING AREA LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 8,300 FT MLS TO A RIDGELINE AT 11,000 FT MSL. THE PLT REPORTED THE EGT (T-4) WAS AT 790 DEG (C), OVER THE TAKEOFF 5 MIN LIMITATION. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A NORMAL TAKEOFF. AS THE ACFT REACHED AN ALT ABOVE THE 80 FT TALL TREES BELOW TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, IT SHUDDERED THEN SPUN COUNTERCLOCKWISE. THE OGE MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED WEIGHT WAS COMPUTER AT 1,812 KILOGRAMS OR 3,995.5 LBS. THE WEIGHT CALCULATED BY THE PLT AFTER THE ACCIDENT WAS 3,995 LBS. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT COMPONENTS WERE INSTALLED ON THE ACFT AFTER IT HAD BEEN WEIGHED. THE PLT DID NOT INCLUDE ALL THE ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS IN HIS CALCULATIONS.
Full Narrative
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CRASHED IN ROUGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS SHUTTLING SKIERS FROM A LANDING AREA LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 8,300 FT MLS TO A RIDGELINE AT 11,000 FT MSL. THE PLT REPORTED THE EGT (T-4) WAS AT 790 DEG (C), OVER THE TAKEOFF 5 MIN LIMITATION. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A NORMAL TAKEOFF. AS THE ACFT REACHED AN ALT ABOVE THE 80 FT TALL TREES BELOW TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, IT SHUDDERED THEN SPUN COUNTERCLOCKWISE. THE OGE MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED WEIGHT WAS COMPUTER AT 1,812 KILOGRAMS OR 3,995.5 LBS. THE WEIGHT CALCULATED BY THE PLT AFTER THE ACCIDENT WAS 3,995 LBS. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT COMPONENTS WERE INSTALLED ON THE ACFT AFTER IT HAD BEEN WEIGHED. THE PLT DID NOT INCLUDE ALL THE ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS IN HIS CALCULATIONS.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:45 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftAerospatiale AS-350D
Tail NumberN88GT
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · LTS 101-600AC · Turboshaft · 595
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury Summary5 injuries (5 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor5
Uninjured1
Total6
Crew 1Age 41 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility25 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point30 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO