# NTSB DEN85LA057: Aerospatiale SA315B, N1356A, Salt Lake City, UT, January 3, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 3, 1985, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Location: 40.7608° N, 111.8910° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salt Lake City, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7608&lon=-111.8910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16621
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16621/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA057

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - aircraft performance - exceeded (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED UNCONTROLLED WITH THE TERRAIN DURING EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION. A 100 FT STEEL CABLE WAS ATTACHED TO THE CARGO HOOK ON THE HELICOPTER AND A NYLON SLING WAS ATTACHED TO THE CABLE SO A SNOWCAT COULD BE PULLED OUT OF A MUD AREA. THE PLT STATED THAT AS HE BEGAN TO PULL FROM THE REAR OF THE SNOWCAT, THE LATERAL CG WAS EXCEEDED AND THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED SHALLOW WATER ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1356A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1356A-1988-10-26), registration cancelled 1988-10-26, S/N 2172 (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: 2172/18
- Airframe hours: 2200
- Engines: TURBOMECA ARTOUSTE IIIB 562 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 133
- Operator: Continental Helicopter
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1984, 20 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,480 total, 153 in this make and model, 187 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC

## 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 19850103000559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850103000559A), Jan 3, 1985: Aerosp SA315B, Salt Lake City, UT, Destroyed. Attempted to pull out snowcat stuck in mud. Exceeded helicopter lateral CG, impacted shallow water on right side.

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.