# NTSB DEN82FA009: Aerospatial SA316B, N4261E, Cokeville, WY, November 20, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 20, 1981
- Place: Cokeville, WY · COKEVILLE, WY
- Location: 42.0792° N, 110.9519° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cokeville, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0792&lon=-110.9519&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 122661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82FA009
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FA009

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3635  81/11/20 NR.COKEVILLE,WY       AEROSPATIAL SA316B  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 6020
        TIME - 0730                    N4261E              PX-  0  0  5  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 505 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COKEVILLE,WY               COKEVILLE,WY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      25
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      OTHER
        REMARKS- WND GUSTS TO 20 KTS.D/A APPROX 9500FT.PLT STTD APP FAST,APPROX 50-100FT UP LIFT DISAPPEARED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4261E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIAL SA316B
- 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 19811120074669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811120074669A), Nov 20, 1981: Aerosp SA316B, Cokevill, WY, Substantial damage. Vertical downwind landing on ridge helicopter began settling with power. Blade stall, high sink rate to impact.

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.
