# NTSB ATL85LA059: Aerospatiale SA341G, N49534, Cornelius, NC, December 18, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 18, 1984, 12:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place: Cornelius, NC
- Coordinates: 35.479358, -80.860092 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4794&lon=-80.8601&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6723
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6723/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA059

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - level off - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - initiated, pilot in command
  - rotorcraft flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
  - remedial action - attempted, copilot/second pilot
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - emergency procedure - performed, copilot/second pilot
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

WITH THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY ACTING AS PIC AND THE COMPANY PLT ACTING AS CO-PLT, THE ACFT APPROCAHED THE OPERATOR'S SLIGHTLY ELEVATED HELIPAD. ACCORDING TO PAX STATEMENTS, THE ACFT LANDED HARD, BOUNCED INTO THE AIR AND BEGAN SPINNING COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. THE CO-PLT ASSURED THAT FULL RIGHT PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THEN TOOK OVER CONTROL FROM THE PIC. AFTER 3 TO 5 COMPLETE ROTATIONS, THE C0-PLT BOTTOMED THE COLLECTIVE AND LANDED RIGHT SKID FIRST ON THE UNEVEN TERRAIN. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION REPORTED OR DISCOVERED. SURFACE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N49534 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA341G
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1392
- Airframe hours: 1946
- Engines: TURBOMECA 3A 494 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Reeves Brothers, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 1984, 91 hours before
- Departed: GREENVILLE, SC
- Airport: NONE, Heliport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,299 total, 235 in this make and model, 2,087 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19841218067469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841218067469A), Dec 18, 1984: Snias SA341G, Cornelius, NC, Substantial damage. Bounced during landing and entered rapid erratic rotation. Bottomed collective and landed on sloping terrain.

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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