- Date
- October 5, 1984, 09:55 local (15:55 UTC)
- Place
- East Glacier, MT
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N98325Aerospatiale SE316B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19841005054719A
- Case key
- 16588
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft crashed at a remote landing site while on a seismic operation. The plt stated that he departed a ridge- top with intentions of dropping off 2 to 4 passg at another ridgetop located one-half mi south. The intended ldg point was a narrow ridgetop at 6000 ft MSL, surrounded by rugged terrain & numerous high peaks to 8000 MSL. He stated that the approach was made to the southwest with the wind at the 11 o'clock position. He further stated that 'at approx 20 ft abv touchdown I encountered a downdraft/wind shift which induced a high vertical rate of descent. I did not have sufficient altitude to abort the approach. The acft landed hard on the nosewheel, stabilized at a hover for about two seconds, then rolled onto its right side. I suspect that the damaged nose gear strut interfered with the flt controls after initial impact.' The plt stated the acft operated in a normal mechanical manner prior to the actual accident sequence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N98325
- Reported as
- Aerospatiale SE316B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1243
- Airframe hours
- 7,734
- Engine
- Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Pegasus Helicopter
- Registered owner
- Roberts Aircraft Co
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 11, 1984 · 28 hours before
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 8,872 total · 160 in this make and model · 8,336 as pilot in command · 235 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.