# Accident 20240502004979A: Aerospatiale SA315B, Lewiston, ID, May 2, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2024, 11:30 local time
- Place: Lewiston, ID
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 3CJG
- Location: 46.4080° N, 116.9032° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4080&lon=-116.9032&mi=10
- Aircraft: N42PL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA315B
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARTOUSTEIIIB
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,993 total, 512 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA138) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240502004979A

## Narrative

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

DURING THE LAST LOAD OF THE DAY, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FINISH DISPENSING  NEAR THE EDGE OF THE FIELD.  THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF BOTH THE LARGER HIGH TENSION POWERLINES AND THE ADJACENT SMALLER POWERLINES.  THE PILOT'S FOCUS WAS AVOIDING THE LARGE POWERLINES AND MISJUDGED THE DISTANCE FROM THE SMALLER POWERLINE.  THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE SMALLER POWERLINE WITH THE ROTOR BLADES, WRAPPING THE LINE AROUND THE MAST.  THE PILOT MANEUVERED INTO THE FLARE UNTIL THE POWERLINE TOOK TENSION AND SEPARATED THE MAST AND TRANSMISSION.  THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND AND SNOWBALLED TO A STOP.  THE PILOT EXITED THE HELICOPTER AND SECURED THE FUEL AND ELECTRICAL.

## 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 WPR24LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA138), May 2, 2024: Aerospatiale SA315B (N42PL), Lewiston, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during a low level aerial application.

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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