# NTSB FTW03LA105: Aerospatiale SA341G, N16KH, Alpine, TX, March 6, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 6, 2003, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Alpine, TX - Coordinates: 30.386667, -103.685836 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3867&lon=-103.6858&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administartion (FSDO) - NTSB case key (mKey): 56590 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56590/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA105 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain translational lift, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent of the helicopter during takeoff. A contributing factor was the gusty tailwind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - translational lift - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot flew the helicopter to a mountain top and landed at an elevation of 5,000 feet msl. After a short time, the passengers and pilot reboarded the helicopter for the return flight. The pilot reported that during takeoff, as the helicopter entered translational lift, it encountered a gust of wind from the rear. Subsequently, the helicopter entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted terrain. The helicopter came to rest in a shallow creek. ## Factual narrative On March 6, 2003, at 0930 central standard time, an Aerospatiale SA341G helicopter, N16KH, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain following a loss of control during takeoff from Cathedral Mountain, approximately 20 miles south of Alpine, Texas. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a private individual doing business as Bear Helicopters Inc., of El Paso, Texas. The pilot, who held an airline transport pilot certificate, and his three passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 nonscheduled, air taxi flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Marfa, Texas. According to the pilot, who had accumulated a total of 1,000 hours in the SA341, the flight initially departed from Marfa and flew to Cathedral Mountain (5,000 feet msl), where the helicopter landed. The purpose of the flight was for the passengers to visit real estate property. After visiting the property, the passengers and pilot reboarded the helicopter for a return flight to Marfa. The pilot reported that he initiated the takeoff, entered translational lift, and the helicopter then encountered a gust of wind from the rear. Subsequently, the helicopter lost lift and impacted trees and the ground. The helicopter came to rest in a shallow creek. Photographs of the accident site revealed that the helicopter's tailboom was separated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16KH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16KH), registered now, S/N 1456 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerospatiale SA341G - Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA341G GAZELLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa341g-gazelle) (registry code 8680610) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1456 - Airframe hours: 1900 - Engines: Turbomeca ASTAZOUII 600 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Bear Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2002, 20 hours before - Departed: NONE, Alpine, TX - Destination: MRF, Marfa, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 1, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 16,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: MRF, 20 nm away ## 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 20030306002349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030306002349A), Mar 6, 2003: Snias SA341G, Alpine, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) Flight departed marfa municipal airport, marfa, Texas, at 7:45 a.m. for the purpose of reviewing ranch boundaries and/or real estate. The helicopter… 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.