# NTSB DEN84LA292: Aerospatiale SA315B Lama, N49532, Mountain View, WY, September 17, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 17, 1984, 10:35 local (16:35 UTC)
- Place: Mountain View, WY
- Coordinates: 41.270309, -110.330635 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2703&lon=-110.3306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16487
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA292
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16487/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA292

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering
  - compressor assembly,blade retention - corroded (cause)
  - compressor assembly,blade retention - bent (cause)
  - compressor assembly,blade retention - fatigue (cause)
  - compressor assembly,blade - separation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - load jettison - performed, pilot in command
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - penetrated
  - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - starvation

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER DURING AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION. THE PLT RELEASED THE LOAD AND PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION. A HARD LANDING RESULTED DURING WHICH THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE COMPRESSOR SECTION REVEALED THE REAR 1/3 OF THE #3 COMPRESSOR BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE ASS'Y BY A TRANSVERSE FRACTURE THROUGH THE PLATFORM AND AIRFOIL. THE #5 ATTACHMENT PIN SEPARATED APRX 1/4 INCH FROM ITS AFT SURFACE. THE FRACTURE OCCURRED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF STRESS CORROSION CRACKING, FATIGUE PROGRESSION AND BENDING OVERSTRESS.

## 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 SA315B LAMA (SA315B LAM)
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA315B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa315b) (registry code 8680615) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2500
- Airframe hours: 4165
- Engines: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB 562 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Hosking Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 15, 1984, 6 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 11,800 total, 250 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F

## 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 19840917049409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840917049409A), Sep 17, 1984: Aerosp SA315B, Mountain View, WY, Substantial damage. Engine failed after liftoff in hover with external load. Compressor blade fatigue and soft pins contributed.

## 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 SEA83LA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83LA170), Aug 7, 1983: Aerospatiale SA-315B (N49532), Montpelier, ID, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN82DA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DA126), Jul 2, 1982: Aerospatiale SA 315B (N49532), Big Piney, WY, 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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