# NTSB DEN80FA051: Aerospatle 315B, N67103, Dell, MT, July 28, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 28, 1980
- Place: Dell, MT · DELL, MT
- Location: 44.7268° N, 112.6969° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dell, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7268&lon=-112.6969&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 3, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80137
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN80FA051
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FA051

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3616  80/7/28    DELL,MT             AEROSPATLE 315B     CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 43, 8039
        TIME - 1500                    N67103              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            TOTAL HOURS, 1559 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DELL,MT                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: TAIL ROTOR                      TAKEOFF: VERTICAL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY SECURED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNDER TORQUED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOOSE,PART/FITTING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JETTISONED LOAD
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FAILURE OF THE SPLINES ON THE BEVEL GEAR & VERTICAL SHAFT OF THE BEVEL GEAR ASSEMBLY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67103](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67103-1983-07-28), registration cancelled 1983-07-28, S/N 2421 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATLE 315B
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA315B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa315b) (registry code 8680615) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19800728032339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800728032339A), Jul 28, 1980: Aerosp SA315B, Dell, MT, Destroyed. Lost tail rotor drive on liftoff. Spun to ground. Loose bevel gear in tail rotor drive wore splined shaft.

## Other investigations on N67103 (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 DEN77DTM09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77DTM09), Jan 31, 1977: Aerospatle SA315B (N67103), Thistle, UT, substantial damage

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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