# NTSB DEN85LA004: Aerospatiale SE316B, N98325, East Glacier, MT, October 5, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 5, 1984, 09:55 local (15:55 UTC)
- Place: East Glacier, MT
- Coordinates: 48.409614, -113.309127 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4096&lon=-113.3091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16588
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16588/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA004

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
- Roll over, descent - uncontrolled

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98325-2013-02-20), registration cancelled 2013-02-20, S/N 1243, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SE316B
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SE3160 ALOUETTE III](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-se3160-alouette-iii) (registry code 8680605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARTOUSTEIIIB](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-artousteiiib) (registry code 60003, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1243
- Airframe hours: 7734
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841005054719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841005054719A), Oct 5, 1984: Aerosp SE3160, East Glacier, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing helicopter from hover in mountainous terrain when downdraft caused uncontroled descent.

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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