# NTSB LAX82DA215: Aerospatiale 341G, N341BB, Flagstaff, AZ, June 10, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: June 10, 1982, 16:27 local (23:27 UTC)
- Place: Flagstaff, AZ
- Coordinates: 35.229759, -111.720649 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2298&lon=-111.7206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70683
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82DA215
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70683/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA215

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - adequate rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LIFTED OFF TO A 5 FT HOVER WITH 4 PASSENGERS AND 70 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE HOVER CHECK, ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE IN THE GREEN WITH THE TURBINE OUTLET TEMPERATURE AT 550 DEGREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND CLIMB INTO THE WIND WHEN THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN DROPPING. AT THAT TIME, HE ESTIMATED THAT HIS ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 10 FT AGL AND HIS GROUND SPEED WAS ABOUT 3 TO 4 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING AND STILL MOVING FORWARD AS THE PITCH WAS INCREASED TO CUSHION THE GROUND CONTACT. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 9800 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N341BB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N341BB-1988-08-16), registration cancelled 1988-08-16, S/N 1421 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE 341G
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA341G GAZELLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa341g-gazelle) (registry code 8680610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1421
- Airframe hours: 1052
- Engines: ASTAZOU III 400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: G.T. Helicopters
- Registered owner: G.T. Helicopters
- Departed: FLG, FLAGSTAFF, AZ
- Destination: FLG, FLAGSTAFF, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,500 total, 4 in this make and model, 4,300 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Temperature: 185 °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 19820610021289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820610021289A), Jun 10, 1982: Aerosp SA341G, Flagstaff, AZ, Substantial damage. Rotor RPM decay on intial climb. Landed hard in same parking lot. Rotors chopped off tail boom. Unskilled in type.

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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