# NTSB ATL02LA067: Aerospatiale AS315B, N49525, Hortense, GA, March 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 28, 2002, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Hortense, GA - Coordinates: 31.350555, -81.818054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3506&lon=-81.8181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 54413 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54413/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54413 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA067 ## Probable cause Failure of the engine to main transmission drive shaft due to improper installation by company maintenance personnel. A factor were the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering - aerial application - rotor drive system,engine to transmission drive - failure,total (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was 100 feet in the air, at 40 knots, when he heard a bang in the tail section of the helicopter and thought he felt something break loose on the helicopter. There was an immediate loss of power to the main rotor system. The pilot attempted to flare the helicopter as it went into the trees. The helicopter impacted trees at approximately 30 knots, sustaining substantial damage. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the short shaft connecting the engine to the main gear box separated just aft of the connecting flange. Examination of the mounting hardware revealed that the connecting bolts had not been safety wired at the time of the accident. Examination of the helicopters maintenance records and an interview with the helicopter mechanic found that the helicopter had undergone a 400 hour inspection about two days prior to the accident or 10 hours of operation. The mechanic confirmed that he had removed and reinstalled the short shaft prior to the accident but could not recall if he had safety wired the connecting bolts as called for in the helicopters maintenance manual. ## Factual narrative On March 28, 2002, at 1000 eastern standard time, an Aerospatiale Helicopter AS315B, N49525, collided with the ground shortly after takeoff, from Hortense, Georgia. The helicopter was registered to Roberts Aircraft Company, and operated by the commercial pilot for Southern States Cooperative Incorporated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local agricultural application flight. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight was originating from Hortense, Georgia, at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he was 100 feet in the air, at 40 knots, when he heard a bang in the tail section of the helicopter and thought he felt something break loose on the helicopter. There was an immediate loss of power to the main rotor system. The pilot attempted to flare the helicopter as it went into the trees. The helicopter impacted trees at approximately 30 knots, sustaining substantial damage. Examination of the helicopter revealed severe impact damage, including crushed skids, twisting of the tail boom, and rotor blade damage resulting from impact with trees and ground. The tail rotor drive shaft was attached although bent. The engine mount structure was crushed downward, moving the engine out of alignment with the main rotor gearbox. The short shaft connecting the engine to the main gear box was damaged and the driveshaft separated just aft of the connecting flange. Examination of the mounting hardware revealed that connecting bolts had not been safety wired at the time of the accident. Examination of the helicopters maintenance records and an interview with the helicopter mechanic found that the helicopter had undergone a 400 hour inspection about two days prior to the accident or 10 hours of operation. The mechanic confirmed that he had removed and reinstalled the short shaft prior to the accident but could not recall if he had safety wired the connecting bolts as called for in the helicopters maintenance manual. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49525](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49525-2011-09-28), registration cancelled 2011-09-28, S/N 2492, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerospatiale AS315B - Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA315B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa315b) (registry code 8680615) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARTOUSTEIIIB](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-artousteiiib) (registry code 60003, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2492 - Airframe hours: 13445.5 - Engines: Turbomeca Artouste IIIB 858 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Southern States Cooperative Inc. - Registered owner: Roberts Aircraft Company - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 26, 2002, 9.6 hours before - Departed: Hortense, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 3, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 9,850 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: BQK ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020328006069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020328006069A), Mar 28, 2002: Aerosp SA315B, Nanhunta, GA, No damage. (-23) Shortly after takeoff, at approximately 150 ft altitude, speed between 30 and 40 knots, power to the rotor system was lost. Power started to bleed off.… ## Other investigations on N49525 (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 FTW98LA367](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA367), Aug 22, 1998: Aerospatiale SA315B (N49525), Naturita, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Partial loss of engine power resulting from heat induced deterioration of the gas generator turbine. Factors were a forced landing in hilly unsuitable terrain containing mature trees. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54413. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Aerospatiale Maintenance Records (item 2, .PDF, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aerospatiale%20Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 600 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397056&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Mechanic's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397058&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.