# Accident 20130508006579A: Sud Aviation SA 318C, Weston, FL, May 8, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 8, 2013, 09:10 local time
- Place: Weston, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.4439° N, 80.8711° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4439&lon=-80.8711&mi=10
- Aircraft: N318DB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N318DB-2015-05-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sud SA 318C (registry code 8680501, https://openairdocs.org/model/sud-sa-318c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ASTAZOU series (registry code 60020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-astazou-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SUD AVIATION SA 318C
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ASTAZOU SER
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,079 total, 294 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA242) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130508006579A

## Narrative

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

PILOT AND 3 PASSENGERS WERE DOING AERIAL SURVEY FOR FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER THE EVERGLADES SOMEWHERE BETWEEN I-75, ALLIGATOR ALLEY, AND STATE HWY 27 AT A 40 FEET AGL HOVER AND THE PILOT HOVERED SIDEWAYS TO GET CLOSER TO A PATCH OF TREES TO SEE IF THEY WERE ABOVE THE WATERLINE.  WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DESCEND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN ALTITUDE BY INCREASING POWER BUT WAS UNABLE AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND THE TREES RESULTING IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA13LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA242), May 8, 2013: Sud SA 318C (N318DB), South Bay, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain proper rotor rpm while hovering in sideways flight.

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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