# Accident 20120330005509A: Eurocopter SA315B, Alva, OK, March 30, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 30, 2012, 09:00 local time
- Place: Alva, OK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: O4VA
- Location: 36.7930° N, 98.6653° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7930&lon=-98.6653&mi=10
- Aircraft: N929JV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N929JV-2014-08-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter SA315B (registry code 8680993, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-sa315b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTEIIIB (registry code 60003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-artousteiiib) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER SA315B
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARTOUSTEIIIB
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 25,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA235) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120330005509A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS ENROUTE AT 300-400' AGL, 1500' MSL, WITH AN EXTERNAL LOAD WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT AT N37 03.19, W099 00.59, 0930 CDT, 30 MAR 2012. PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION WITH DECAYED ROTOR RPM, RELEASED THE LOAD, AND LANDED HARD AND FLAT WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF FORWARD SPEED SUCH THAT THE AIRCRAFT TIPPED UP ON IT'S NOSE AND THE BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR BLADE TIPS AND THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. DAMAGE CLASSIFIED AS SUBSTANTIAL. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO THE PILOT.

## 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 CEN12LA235](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA235), Mar 30, 2012: Eurocopter SA315B (N929JV), Alva, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the current and previous operators to comply with the manufacturer's maintenance procedures for operation in sandy environments, which resulted in turbine case erosion and the subsequent…

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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