# NTSB FTW93LA203: Aerospatiale SA316B, N3154Y, Snyder, TX, July 4, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 1993, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Snyder, TX - Coordinates: 32.71096, -100.90979 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7110&lon=-100.9098&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18785 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18785/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA203 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL THROUGH LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. FACTORS WERE HIGH WINDS, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND FAILURE TO JETTISON THE EXTERNAL LOAD. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - load jettison - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis WHILE CONDUCTING A SEISMOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT DROP UTILIZING A CAROUSEL AND 50 FOOT LONG LINE, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A LEFT TURN AND DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND FOLLOWING THE FIRST DROP. DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000 FEET, WINDS WERE GREATER THAN 25 KNOTS FROM THE SOUTH AND THE HELICOPTER WAS WORKING GENERALLY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH ALONG A GRID PATTERN. THE AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT WAS 400 POUNDS BELOW MAXIMUM CERTIFIED GROSS WEIGHT, AND EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 1993, at 0930 central daylight time, an Aerospatiale SA316B helicopter, N3154Y, impacted the ground near Snyder, Texas, while maneuvering with an external load. The commercial pilot received serious injuries and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 135 distributing seismographic equipment when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. Interviews with the operator and pilot revealed the aircraft and pilot had been operating in the Snyder area for the previous week. On the morning of the accident, which was the first flight of the day, the pilot had positioned the helicopter at the staging area where a 50 foot longline was utilized to support an external load which was comprised of a carousel hooked with six 200 pound bags of equipment. The helicopter was equipped so that the pilot could release the entire load or release individual bags. The intent was to place bags along a grid area running to the south. The pilot had released the first bag of equipment and was maneuvering when the accident occurred. The pilot had no recall of the accident. The enclosed pilot/operator report indicates that a 270 degree left turn occurred and the helicopter descended into the ground with the carousel and remaining bags attached. The operation was conducted north to south. According to witnesses, weather at the time was winds of greater than 25 knots from the south and a temperature of 95 degrees at the site. Recorded weather at Lubbock provided milder conditions. Accident site elevation was approximately 2,300 feet. At the above temperature, the density altitude was approximately 5,000 feet and the aircraft load following the first drop was 1,000 pounds. Computed weight and balance provided information that the helicopter was approximately 400 pounds below its maximum certified gross weight at the time of the accident. Following impact, the wreckage came to rest on a heading of 270 degrees. The airframe, main rotor, tail rotor, and engine sustained damage. The wreckage was removed to the facilities of Roberts Aircraft in Fort Collins, Colorado. Examination of the wreckage occurred at that facility. The examination provided no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3154Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3154Y-2007-06-15), registration cancelled 2007-06-15, S/N 1428, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA316B - 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 - Serial number: 1428 - Airframe hours: 2759 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARTOUSE IIIB 542 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 133 - Operator: Geo-Seis Helicopters, Inc - Registered owner: Roberts Aircraft Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 3, 1993, 1 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,250 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 17 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LBB, 85 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 19930704025859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930704025859A), Jul 4, 1993: Aerosp SA316B, Snyder, TX, Substantial damage. During long line external load ops helicopter descended to impact after dropping load. Setting with power possible. 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.