Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Siletz, Oregon 97380
Wednesday, May 13, 1987 6:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS THE CHOCKERS BECAME LOOSE DUE TO IMPROPER LOADING. THE EXTERNAL LOAD LONGLINE CABLE BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE TAILROTOR CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR SYSTEM. THE HELICOPTER ASSUMED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND SPUN TO THE LEFT, IMPACTING TERRAIN WITH THE LEFT SKID, AND THEN ROLLING OVER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE TAIL ROTOR WAS LOCATED 100 YARDS FROM THE IMPACT AREA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/13/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 620
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SILETZ
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97380
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 649
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 13 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33766
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N47256
NTSB Number SEA87LA092
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model SA315-D LAMA
Aircraft Series Identifier SA315-D LA
Aircraft Serial Number 2433
Certified Max Gross Weight 4300
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 9 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 94
Airframe Hours 7186
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1337
Aircraft Owner City PROVO
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 1337
Operator City PROVO
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84603
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City NEWPORT
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 615
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --