# NTSB DEN85IA025: Aerospatiale SA315B (Lama), N5785V, Oak City, UT, November 11, 1984 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: November 11, 1984, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Oak City, UT - Coordinates: 39.370258, -112.27996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3703&lon=-112.2800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 16579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85IA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16579/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85IA025 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, climb - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - light condition - daylight (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, climb - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - light condition - daylight (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) BOTH ACFT WERE PERFORMING EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS. N5785V WAS IN LEVEL FLT TO THE NORTH. N9362 WAS IN A 60-70 KT SLIGHT CLIMB TO THE SOUTHEAST. NEITHER PLT, BOTH IN RT SEATS, SAW THE OTHER ACFT BEFORE CONTACT. THREE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF N5785V PASSED THROUGH THE UPPER LEFT SECTION OF THE COCKPIT OF N9362. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE ACFT WERE CONVERGING AT A 45 DEG ANGLE. THE SUN WAS RISING IN THE EAST, THE TERRAIN WAS SNOW COVERED & BOTH ACFT WERE PAINTED WHITE. EACH PLT BROADCASTED HIS POSITION & DESTINATION BEFORE LIFTING OFF, BUT NEITHER RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. NEITHER MADE ANY FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS AFTER TAKING OFF. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) BOTH ACFT PERFORMING EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATIONS. N5785V WAS IN LEVEL FLT TO THE NORTH. N9362 WAS IN A 60-70 KT SLIGHT CLIMB TO THE SOUTHEAST. NEITHER PLT, BOTH IN RT SEATS, SAW THE OTHER ACFT BEFORE CONTACT. 3 MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF N5785V PASSED THROUGH UPPER LEFT SECTION OF COCKPIT ON N9362. INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH ACFT CONVERGING AT A 45 DEG ANGLE. SUN WAS RISING IN EAST, TERRAIN WAS SNOW COVERED AND BOTH ACFT WERE PAINTED WHITE. EACH PLT BROADCASTED HIS POSITION & DESTINATION BEFORE LIFTING OFF, BUT NEITHER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. NEITHER MADE ANY FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS AFTER TAKEOFF. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N5785V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5785V-1988-03-16), registration cancelled 1988-03-16, S/N 2617 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA315B (LAMA) (SA315B (LA) - Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA315B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa315b) (registry code 8680615) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3617 - Airframe hours: 14161 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARTOUSTE IIIB 562 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 133 - Registered owner: Aero Systems - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 31, 1984, 505 hours before - Departed: OAK CITY, UT ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N9362](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9362-2015-05-04), registration cancelled 2015-05-04, S/N 1739, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA-316 ALOUETTE (SA-316 ALO) - Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA316B ALOUETTE III](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa316b-alouette-iii) (registry code 8680515) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARTOUSTEIIIB](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-artousteiiib) (registry code 60003, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1739 - Airframe hours: 3398 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARTOUSTE IIIB 562 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 133 - Registered owner: Rocky Mountain Helicopters,Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 7, 1984 - Departed: OAK CITY, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N5785V; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 5,100 total, 500 in this make and model, 500 in the last 90 days - Pilot, aircraft N9362; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 8,098 total, 1,428 in this make and model, 7,898 as pilot in command, 241 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19841111075701I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841111075701I), Nov 11, 1984: Aerosp SA315B, Oak City, UT, Minor damage. Main rotor blade tip struck cockpit of N9362 in flight. Landed safely. - [Incident 19841111075702I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841111075702I), Nov 11, 1984: Aerosp SA316B, Oak City, UT, Minor damage. Upper left section of cockpit was hit in flight by N5785VS main rotor blade tip. Landed safely. ## Other investigations on N5785V (1) 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 DEN82DTI15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DTI15), Jun 16, 1982: Aerospatiale SA 315B (N5785V), White Sulphur S, MT, destroyed 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.