# NTSB LAX86LA143: Aerospatiale AS-350D, N88GT, Tahoe Valley, CA, March 17, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 17, 1986, 13:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Tahoe Valley, CA
- Location: 38.9135° N, 120.0043° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tahoe Valley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9135&lon=-120.0043&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 5 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25094
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25094/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA143

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,recordkeeping - not maintained, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - flight manuals - improper, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft performance,takeoff capability - exceeded (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - vertical takeoff - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,takeoff capability - exceeded (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TREES AND CRASHED IN ROUGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DURING TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS SHUTTLING SKIERS FROM A LANDING AREA LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 8,300 FT MLS TO A RIDGELINE AT 11,000 FT MSL. THE PLT REPORTED THE EGT (T-4) WAS AT 790 DEG (C), OVER THE TAKEOFF 5 MIN LIMITATION. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A NORMAL TAKEOFF. AS THE ACFT REACHED AN ALT ABOVE THE 80 FT TALL TREES BELOW TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, IT SHUDDERED THEN SPUN COUNTERCLOCKWISE. THE OGE MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED WEIGHT WAS COMPUTER AT 1,812 KILOGRAMS OR 3,995.5 LBS. THE WEIGHT CALCULATED BY THE PLT AFTER THE ACCIDENT WAS 3,995 LBS. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT COMPONENTS WERE INSTALLED ON THE ACFT AFTER IT HAD BEEN WEIGHED. THE PLT DID NOT INCLUDE ALL THE ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS IN HIS CALCULATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88GT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88GT-1990-07-27), registration cancelled 1990-07-27, S/N 1071 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-350D
- Registry model: [S N I A S AS350D ASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as350d-astar) (registry code 8680803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1071
- Airframe hours: 12522
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS 101-600AC 595 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Cri Helicopters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Unknown, February 15, 1986, 14 hours before
- Departed: FREE PEAK, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,596 total, 300 in this make and model, 5,400 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F

## Other investigations on N88GT (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 LAX80DA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DA038), Jan 24, 1980: Aerospatle AS-350 (N88GT), Scottsdale, AZ, substantial damage

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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