Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Near Brideport, California 93517
Monday, March 22, 1982 10:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TAKING OFF IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA, THE PILOT BEGAN CLIMBING IN UP-CURRENTS ON THE SIDE OF A CANYON. WHILE FOLLOWING A RIDGE AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL (11,000 FT MSL), HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY A SHUDDER AND VIBRATIONS. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN DESCENDING RAPIDLY. THE PILOT TURNED TOWARD THE RIDGE AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN A SNOWFIELD. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE OIL FILTER COVER OF THE GEAR BOX HAD SEPARATED. A TAPERED PIN WHICH WAS USED TO SECURE THE COVER HAD SHEARED FROM OVERLOAD. A DISASSEMBLY OF THE MAIN TRANSMISSION REVEALED THAT THE LOWER PLANETARY GEAR HAD FAILED FROM OIL STARVATION. ONLY 20 MM OF OIL WAS FOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/22/1982
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City NEAR BRIDEPORT
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93517
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 3
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 942
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 123
Weather Observation Facility ID MTH
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 41
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 45
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 4
Injury Total All 7
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2449
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9829C
NTSB Number LAX82FA117
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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 SA316B
Aircraft Series Identifier SA316B
Aircraft Serial Number 1242
Certified Max Gross Weight 4630
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 69
Airframe Hours 7253
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT'S AIRCRAFT, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1715 N. PINAL AVE.
Aircraft Owner City CASA GRANDE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85222
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MAMMOTH HELI-SKI TIOYABE CORP.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 600
Operator City MAMMOTH LAKES
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93546
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
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 PRIVATE HELIPOR
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City VICTORIA PEAK
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
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 --