# NTSB DEN00LA019: Aerospatiale SA341G, N341G, El Paso, TX, November 17, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 17, 1999, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: El Paso, TX - Coordinates: 31.840766, -106.430603 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8408&lon=-106.4306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47783 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47783/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA019 ## Probable cause An uncommanded flight control input for undetermined reasons resulting in rotor blade contact with the ground and subsequent loss of control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - rotorcraft flight control system - uncommanded (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, maneuvering - rotor system,main rotor - blade strike - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot said that he saw something on the ground that he wanted to observe. He went into a hover at 5 feet agl. The pilot said that when he initiated his departure, the helicopter made an uncommanded roll to the right causing the main rotor blades to hit the ground. Postaccident examination and testing of the three main rotor blade servos found no anomalies which might have initiated an uncommanded roll. The helicopter manufacturer's representative said that he had never heard of an uncommanded roll in this model of aircraft. ## Factual narrative On November 17, 1999, approximately 1145 mountain standard time, an Aerospatiale SA341G (Gazelle) helicopter, N341G, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain while maneuvering near El Paso, Texas. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant in the helicopter, was not injured. The helicopter was owned by the pilot, and operated by Bear Helicopters, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area surveillance flight which originated approximately 1.5 hours before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that he had been flying a reconnaissance mission for the U.S. Military over the McGregor test firing range in New Mexico. He was returning home to his base near El Paso, Texas, when he saw something on the ground that looked like a drone aircraft. He said that he went to a hover at approximately 5 feet above ground level (agl) to examine the object. The pilot said that when he initiated his departure, the helicopter made an uncommanded roll to the right causing the main rotor blades to hit the ground. Postaccident examination and testing of the three main rotor blade servos, by a certified testing facility, found no anomalies which might have initiated an uncommanded roll (see docket exhibits). The helicopter manufacturer's representative said that he had never heard of an uncommanded roll in this model of aircraft. One main rotor pitch change link was found bent and broken. It was examined by a member of the National Transportation Safety Board's Materials Laboratory Division. No unusual anomalies were identified (see docket exhibits). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N341G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N341G-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 1056, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerospatiale SA341G - Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA341G GAZELLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa341g-gazelle) (registry code 8680610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ASTAZOU-111A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-astazou-111a) (registry code 60007, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1056 - Airframe hours: 3654 - Engines: Turbomeca ASTAZOU IIIA 592 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles Bella - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1999, 25 hours before - Departed: NONE, MCGREGOR, NM - Destination: TS59 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 13,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ELP, 15 nm away ## 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 19991117031739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991117031739A), Nov 17, 1999: Snias SA341G, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On November 17, 1999, approximately 1155 mountain standard time, an aerospatiale SA341G (gazelle) helicopter, N341G, was substantially damaged following… 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.