# NTSB ANC82FA035: Sud SA 318C, N9367, Near Savoonga, AK, April 15, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1982, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Near Savoonga, AK
- Coordinates: 63.680233, -170.489501 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6802&lon=-170.4895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 15, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71926
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82FA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71926/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82FA035

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - temperature extremes

## Analysis

AT 0746 LCL TIME, THE PLT ACTIVATED HIS VFR FLT PLAN FOR A ROUND ROBIN FLT FROM NOME, AK TO SAVOONGA, NE CAPE, SAVOONGA, SE CAPE, SAVOONGA & BACK TO NOME. AFTER ARRIVING AT SAVOONGA, THE HELICOPTER WAS REFUELED. ACCORDING TO SVRL VILLAGERS, THE WX AT THAT TIME WAS POOR, VIS 1 TO 2 MI WITH BLOWING SNOW, WIND FROM THE NORTH AT 25, GSTG 30 KTS. BFR DEPARTING, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE SUITABILITY OF THE WX, BUT THE PLT WAS CONVINCED HE COULD COMPLETE THE MISSION. AFTER DEPARTING, THE PLT WAS FLWG THE SHORELINE WHEN THE VIS BGN DECREASING. THE SURVIVING PAX RPRTD THAT THE PLT REVERSED COURSE, BUT THE VIS CONTD TO DECREASE TIL HE (THE PAX) COULD NOT SEE THE GND. HE RPRTD THAT THE PLT BGN MANIPULATING THE CONTROLS IN AN UNUSUAL MANNER & THE HELICOPTER BGN MVG LEFT & RIGHT, UP & DOWN AND ALL AROUND, THEN CRASHED. THERE WERE INDICATIONS THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED WHILE MVG REARWARD & TO THE RIGHT. ESTIMATE 285 LBS OVR THEMAX GROSS WT LMT. SRCH NOT INITIATED TIL 12 HR FLT PLAN EXPIRED, FOUND NXT MORNING, ELT SIGNAL. HYPOTHERMIA, FROST BITE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9367](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9367-2014-11-24), registration cancelled 2014-11-24, S/N 2168, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SUD AVIATION SA 318C
- Registry model: [Sud SA 318C ALOUETTE AST](https://openairdocs.org/model/sud-sa-318c-alouette-ast) (registry code 8680508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ASTAZOU IIA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-astazou-iia) (registry code 60006, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2168
- Engines: TURBOMECA ASTAZOU IIA 523 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Operator: Evergreen Helicopters Of Alask
- Registered owner: Evergreen Helicopters Of Alask
- Departed: SAVOONGA, AK
- Destination: NOME, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,618 total, 295 in this make and model, 2,454 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 25 knots
- Temperature: 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

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.

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