20020730021349A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Aerosp SA315B · Estespark, CO · July 30, 2002

Date: July 30, 2002 · 18:45 local
Place: Estespark, CO
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N3978Y
NTSB investigation: NTSBDEN02GA085
Reported as: Aerosp SA315B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N3978YRegistration cancelled Sep 13, 2002 · Aerospatiale SA315BS/N 2520 · Built 1978 Airframe modelAerospatiale SA315B Engine modelTurbomeca ARTOUSTEIIIBTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Fatal helicopter accident involving N3978Y, an aerospatiale SA315B lama, at the big elk incident, within arapahoe-roosevelt national forest on July 30, 2002. Aircraft was engaged in dropping water on hot spots when the pilot radioed "helicopter going down." Initial investigation had revealed the 1st, 2nd third stage turbine nozzles destroyed due to over temp. This report contains information gathered by 08/21/02. Investigation is continuing.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) FATAL HELICOPTER ACCIDENT INVOLVING N3978Y, AN AEROSPATIALE SA315B LAMA, AT THE BIG ELK INCIDENT, WITHIN ARAPAHOE-ROOSEVELT NATIONAL FOREST ON JULY 30, 2002. AIRCRAFT WAS ENGAGED IN DROPPING WATER ON HOT SPOTS WHEN THE PILOT RADIOED "HELICOPTER GOING DOWN." INITIAL INVESTIGATION HAD REVEALED THE 1ST, 2ND THIRD STAGE TURBINE NOZZLES DESTROYED DUE TO OVER TEMP. THIS REPORT CONTAINS INFORMATION GATHERED BY 08/21/02. INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB DEN02GA085Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportEstes Park, COthe pilot's abrupt collective input during water application to a forest fire. Contributing factors were encountering a vortex ring state, the inadvertent settling with power, the low altitude, and the mountainous terrain.Jul 31, 2002 · Destroyed