# NTSB DEN01LA125: Aerospatiale SA315B, N2128Z, Cody, WY, July 17, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 2001, 15:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Cody, WY - Coordinates: 44.665279, -109.135002 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6653&lon=-109.1350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52742 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52742/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA125 ## Probable cause the failure of the turbine assembly due to an over temperature condition. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, hover - turbine assembly,turbine blade - overtemperature (cause) - turbine assembly,turbine blade - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was starting his 27th move of geophysical drilling equipment for the day. He was pulling in power to lift (long line) an engine and a compressor when he heard two loud "pops." He lost engine power, but did not release the long line because his ground helper was underneath the load. He moved forward a short distance, and autorotated to a 45 degree hill side. The aircraft landed and immediately rolled on its side with the mast pointing down slope which stopped the rolling. The ground helper said that he saw "fire shooting out of the tailpipe" as the helicopter descended towards the earth. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that all the turbine blades had experienced an extreme over temperature condition. The density altitude was computed to be 9,205 feet. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 2001, at approximately 1515 mountain daylight time, an Aerospatiale SA315B helicopter, N2128Z, was destroyed when it rolled over following an emergency autorotation near Cody, Wyoming. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the aircraft, received minor injuries. Geo-Seis Helicopters, Fort Collins, Colorado, was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 133. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The long line operation originated from a remote landing zone approximately 45 minutes before the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he was starting his 27th move of geophysical drilling equipment for the day. He was increasing power to lift an engine and compressor when he heard two loud "pops." The engine lost power, but the pilot did not release the long line because his ground helper was underneath the load. He moved forward a short distance, and autorotated to a 45 degree hill side. The aircraft landed and immediately rolled on its side with the mast pointing down slope, which stopped the aircraft from rolling. The ground helper said that he saw "fire shooting out of the tailpipe" as the helicopter descended. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that all the turbine blades had experienced an extreme over temperature condition. The density altitude was computed to be 9,205 feet. The pilot had approximately 5,510 hours of flight experience in SA315B Lamas. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2128Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2128Z-2012-01-09), registration cancelled 2012-01-09, S/N 062014, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerospatiale SA315B - 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: 06-201 - Airframe hours: 21475 - Engines: Turbomeca Artouste III 856 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Other work use, Part 133 - Operator: Geo-Seis Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: Robert's Aircraft Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, July 17, 2001, 2.6 hours before - Departed: NONE, Cody, WY - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 4, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 16,550 total, 5,510 in this make and model, 16,490 as pilot in command, 111 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: COD, 10 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 20010717017939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010717017939A), Jul 17, 2001: Aerosp SA315B, Cody, WY, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated he was in a stabilized hover while his 50 foot line was being attached to a load. He heard two loud pops and started to lose power. He… 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.