# NTSB FTW81IA103: Aerospatial SE3160, N605RA, Ruidoso, NM, June 9, 1981

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 9, 1981
- Place: Ruidoso, NM · RUIDOSO, NM
- Location: 33.3495° N, 105.6688° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ruidoso, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3495&lon=-105.6688&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 1, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125402
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81IA103
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81IA103

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-0023   81/6/9    RUIDOSO,NM          AEROSPATIAL SE3160  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 57, 14000
        TIME - 1150                    N605RA              PX-  0  0  2  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 700 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RUIDOSO MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RUIDOSO,NM                  ALBUQUERQUE,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           TAXI: AERIAL TAXI TO TAKEOFF
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR R.P.M.
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      87
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- TOUCHED DOWN W BRAKES ON.TAIL BOOM RAISED UP IN PATH OF MAIN ROTOR BLADES.D/A APRX 10000FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N605RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N605RA-2007-05-22), registration cancelled 2007-05-22, S/N 1165, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIAL SE3160
- 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
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Minor damage
- Airport: Ruidoso Muni

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19810609071879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810609071879I), Jun 9, 1981: Aerosp SE3160, Ruidoso, NM, Minor damage. Helicopter settled back into ground after takeoff. Possible density altitude problem.

## Other investigations on N605RA (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 LAX98TA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98TA278), Aug 27, 1998: Aerospatiale SA316B (N605RA), Porterville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate in-flight clearance between the bucket and trees resulting in the entanglement/separation of the long line and subsequent impact with and separation of the…

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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