# Accident 20030821037179A: Aerosp SA319B, Whittier, AK, August 21, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 21, 2003, 12:30 local time
- Place: Whittier, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.6667° N, 147.4167° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6667&lon=-147.4167&mi=10
- Aircraft: N319LF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N319LF-2013-06-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale SA319B ALOUETTE III (registry code 8680607, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa319b-alouette-iii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ASTAZOU series (registry code 60020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-astazou-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSP SA319B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,300 total, 700 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC03LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA098) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030821037179A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED GROUND RESONANCE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A 12'X12' ALUMINUM PAD. THE RESULTING GROUND RESONANCE RESULTED IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED TO INCLUDE A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE LANDING SITE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE GROUND RESONANCE. THE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE LANDING SITE HAS BEEN PUT ON NOTICE THAT THEIR LANDING SITE IS UNACCEPTABLE AND CAN CAUSE GROUND RESONANCE IN SOME TYPES OF HELICOPTERS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC03LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA098), Aug 21, 2003: Aerospatiale SA319B (N319LF), Whittier, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's encounter with ground resonance during landing, which resulted in an aborted landing and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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