# NTSB DEN84LA282: Aerospatiale 316B Alouette III, N8266, Cokeville, WY, September 5, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 5, 1984, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Cokeville, WY
- Coordinates: 42.080684, -110.950561 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0807&lon=-110.9506&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16479
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA282
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16479/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA282

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - rotorcraft flight control,tail rotor cable - failure,total (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT HE LOST TAILROTOR CONTROL WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A LANDING. HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO COKEVILLE AIRPORT AND MAKE THE LANDING. THE PLT EXECUTED AN AITOROTATION TO THE RUNWAY AND DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE TAIL SKID STRUCK THE RUNWAY, STRAIGHTNING THE ACFT. THE ACFT LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER. POST CRASH EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT A SEPERATION HAD OCCURRED IN THE TAILROTOR CONTROL CABLE. THE CABLE WAS EXAMINED AND BORE EVIDENCE OF HAVING BEEN CUT BY A BLUNT INSTRUMENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8266](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8266-1988-11-17), registration cancelled 1988-11-17, S/N 1772 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE 316B ALOUETTE III (316B ALOUE)
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA316B ALOUETTE III](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa316b-alouette-iii) (registry code 8680515) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1772
- Airframe hours: 35547
- Engines: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB 562 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Aero Systems, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: U06, Cokeville, runway 33, 4,900 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,643 total, 1,959 in this make and model, 7,414 as pilot in command, 265 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19840905051679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840905051679A), Sep 5, 1984: Aerosp SA316B, Cokeville, WY, Substantial damage. Rotation started during hover on autorotation at airport. Tail skid contacted runway, tail rotor cable failed.

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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