# NTSB DEN84LA286: Aerospatiale SA315B, N62338, Lyman, WY, September 7, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 1984, 08:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place: Lyman, WY
- Coordinates: 41.319526, -110.299888 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3195&lon=-110.2999&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 5 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16482
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA286
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16482/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA286

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise
  - fuel system,fuel control - foreign object (cause)
  - fuel system,line - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT ENGINE RPM BEGAN DETERIORATING DURING A CLIMB TO CRUISE FLT. HE RETURNED TO THE LANDING SITE WHERE THE RPM DECAYED TO FLT IDLE, AN AUTOROTATION WAS ENTERED AND A HARD LANDING RESULTED. THE ENGINE RAN FOR 1 HOUR IN A TEST CELL AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND NO EVIDENCE OF A MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE FUEL SPEED GOVERNOR WAS REMOVED, TESTED AND FOUND TO FUNCTION NORMALLY HOWEVER DURING THE REMOVAL OF THE FUEL METERING SYSTEM PART OF AN 'O' RING WAS FOUND IN A SPRING NEXT TO THE FUEL PORTS. THE 'O' RING FRAGMENT COULD HAVE BLOCKED ONE OF THE FUEL PORTS ALLOWING THE RPM TO DROP TO FLIGHT IDLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62338](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62338-1990-04-02), registration cancelled 1990-04-02, S/N 2402 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA315B
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA315B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa315b) (registry code 8680615) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2402
- Airframe hours: 3547
- Engines: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB 562 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Evergreen Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,380 total, 2,950 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EVW

## 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 19840907051549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840907051549A), Sep 7, 1984: Aerosp SA315B, Lyman, WY, Substantial damage. Part of o ring was found in a spring next to fuel ports in fuel speed governor. Autorotation caused 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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