# NTSB DEN82DA126: Aerospatiale SA 315B, N49532, Big Piney, WY, July 2, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1982, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Big Piney, WY
- Coordinates: 42.539676, -110.110893 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5397&lon=-110.1109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 2, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69947
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82DA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69947/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA126

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, takeoff
  - weather condition - high density altitude
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - pickup equipment - movement restricted (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - load jettison - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FELT A SHUDDER WHILE HE WAS TAKING OFF WITH A LONG LINE ATTACHED. HE BEGAN A DESCENT, AND WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT 5 FT ABOVE THE GROUND, THE LONG LINE CAUGHT A TREE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND THE ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE SNOW. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED IN A MOUNTAINOUS SADDLE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 10,200 FT. THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 20 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49532](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49532-1990-09-07), registration cancelled 1990-09-07, S/N 2500 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA 315B
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA315B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa315b) (registry code 8680615) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2500
- Airframe hours: 2737
- Engines: TURBOMECA ARTOUSTE IIIB 600 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 133
- Operator: Hosking Exploration Helicopter
- Registered owner: Hosking Exploration Helicopter
- Departed: BIG PINEY, WY
- Destination: BIG PINEY, WY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 7,000 total, 326 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 140 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19820702028239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820702028239A), Jul 2, 1982: Aerosp SA315B, Big Piney, WY, Substantial damage. Long line caught on a tree on takeoff causing helicopter to crash out of control. Failed to disconnect line.

## Other investigations on N49532 (2)

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 DEN84LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA292), Sep 17, 1984: Aerospatiale SA315B Lama (N49532), Mountain View, WY, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA83LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83LA170), Aug 7, 1983: Aerospatiale SA-315B (N49532), Montpelier, ID, 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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