Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Galt, California 95632
Wednesday, January 30, 1985 7:12 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE IN CRUISE THE PLT LOST TAIL ROTOR CONTROL AND ELECTED TO EXECUTE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX WAS FOUND 45 FT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE TAIL ROTOR GUARD WAS FOUND 60 FT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. IT DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY GROUND IMPACT DAMAGE, BUT DID DISPLAY 3 TAIL ROTOR BLADE MARKS. THE RIGHT EAR TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX ATTACHMENT BOLT SHEARED IN AN OVERLOAD MANNER. THE LEFT EAR TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX ATTACHMENT BOLT WAS MISSING AND THE EAR SHOWED COMPRESSION DAMAGE AT THE BOTTOM AFT EDGE OF ITS INSIDE PLATE. THERE WAS NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACTFAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/30/1985
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 712
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City GALT
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95632
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 1
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 654 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID SAC
Elevation of weather observation facility 21
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1800
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 298
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 30 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 750
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27338
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N67081
NTSB Number LAX85FA126
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model SA316B
Aircraft Series Identifier SA316B
Aircraft Serial Number 2184
Certified Max Gross Weight 4960
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jan 29 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 2054
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 800 S. 3110 WEST P.O. BOX 1337
Aircraft Owner City PROVO
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84603
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City SACRAMENTO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone PST
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 Yes
Medical Flight --