# NTSB LAX94LA311: Aerospatiale SA316B, N981CF, Stateline, NV, August 10, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 1994, 21:37 local (Aug 10, 1994, 04:37 UTC) - Place: Stateline, NV - Coordinates: 38.960475, -119.899681 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9605&lon=-119.8997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28819 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA311 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28819/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA311 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilot to maintain the proper rate of descent during the vertical descent into the landing zone, which resulted in a hard landing. Factors in the accident were high density altitude and dark night light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - high terrain - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor) - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE HELICOPTER WAS EN ROUTE TO PICK UP AN AUTO ACCIDENT VICTIM. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MADE A LANDING ZONE IN A PARKING LOT AND MARKED IT WITH ROAD FLARES. THE PARKING LOT IS ABOUT 7,200 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL). THE PILOT TERMINATED THE APPROACH ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE, AND DESCENDED VERTICALLY. A RAPID RATE OF DESCENT DEVELOPED, WHICH THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST, AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED AT 9,500 FEET ABOVE MSL. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 1994, at 2137 hours Pacific daylight time, an Aerospatiale SA316B, N981CF, collided with level terrain while attempting to land in a parking lot at night at the Heavenly Valley Ski Resort, Stateline, Nevada. The helicopter was being operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters, Inc., Provo, Utah, under 14 CFR Part 91. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot, flight nurse, and emergency medical technician received minor injuries. The flight originated from the Washoe Medical Center Heliport (NV57), Reno, Nevada, at 2107 hours. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The purpose of the flight was to position the helicopter to pick up a critically injured person and then transport that person to a medical facility in Reno, Nevada. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office prepared a landing area in the Boulder Parking Lot of the Heavenly Valley Ski Resort. The elevation of the parking lot is about 7,200 feet above mean sea level. The landing area was marked by a sheriff's deputy with road flares. According to the operator, the pilot terminated the approach about 200 feet above ground level. The pilot accomplished a power check and a reconnaissance of the landing area using the helicopter's search light. The pilot then lowered the collective and descended vertically. A rapid rate of descent developed and the pilot added power and hovered laterally. The rate of descent started to subside as the helicopter descended into ground effect about 20 feet above the ground. The helicopter struck the asphalt surface of the parking lot in a nose-down attitude, collapsing the nose gear, bending the nose section upward, and damaging the tail rotor. The helicopter then bounced, became airborne again, and traveled off the parking lot and began to spin to the left. The helicopter landed upright in a small stream down a 60- to 74-degree slope, 40 feet below the level of the parking lot. The pilot indicated the temperature was 70 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the accident. The density altitude was computed at 9,500 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N981CF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N981CF-1998-05-08), registration cancelled 1998-05-08, S/N 1910 (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) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1910 - Airframe hours: 7764 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARTOUSE IIIA 853 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rocky Mountain Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, August 5, 1994, 20 hours before - Departed: NV57, RENO, NV - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; airline transport; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,668 total, 4,142 in this make and model, 85 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 280° at 4 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 36 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 19940809021129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940809021129A), Aug 9, 1994: Aerosp SA316B, Stateline, NV, Substantial damage. High descent rate to parking lot partily arrested. Bounced. Damaged.became airborne. Spun down embankment into creek 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.