# NTSB MIA00LA095: Aerospatiale SA341G, N2LN, Delray, FL, February 20, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 20, 2000, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Delray, FL
- Coordinates: 26.450139, -80.18927 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4501&lon=-80.1893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48683
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48683/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA095

## Probable cause

a collision with a fence while at a hover, which resulted in the helicopter rolling over.

## Sequence of events

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

- Roll over, hover
  - object - fence
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot had approached the field from the west, and came to a stop about halfway into the field,  about 6 to 8 feet above the ground, turned 90 degrees to the north, stopped, and started a turn to the west.  The helicopter hesitated to turn, started to turn east, drifted north, hooked a barred wire fence with the right side skid, and lost control.

## Factual narrative

On February 20, 2000, about 1130 eastern standard time, an Aerospatiale SA341G helicopter, N2LN, owned by a private individual impacted with the ground while hovering in an open field near Delray, Florida.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight.  The helicopter was substantially damaged.  The commercial-rated pilot reported no injuries.  The flight had originated from the Willis Gliderport, Boynton Beach, Florida, at an unknown time.

According to the pilot he had approached the field from the west, and came to a stop about halfway into the field, "...6 to 8 above [the] ground...turned 90 degrees to the north stopped...looked west...started a turn into the west...at this time helicopter hesitated to turn and then started to turn east...I believe that I drifted north and didn't realize that there was a barbed wire fence, there I must have hooked right side into fence and lost control."

The FAA inspector's statement stated, "...the pilot...explained that while performing a low hover, he turned the Gazelle 90 degrees to the north and lost control of the aircraft which subsequently caught a landing skid into a barbed wire cattle fence...the main rotor blades contact the ground and were destroyed...no evidence of fire or leakage of fuel or other fluids observed...."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2LN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2LN-2017-07-12), registration cancelled 2017-07-12, S/N 1310, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Aerospatiale SA341G
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA341G GAZELLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa341g-gazelle) (registry code 8680610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ASTAZOU-111A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-astazou-111a) (registry code 60007, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1310
- Airframe hours: 1810
- Engines: Turbomeca ASTAZOU IIIA 590 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joe Brito, doing business as Ag Copter Sales
- Registered owner: Hgb LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1999, 16 hours before
- Departed: 3X1, DELRAY BEACH, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,400 total, 20 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 20000220005299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000220005299A), Feb 20, 2000: Snias SA341G, Delray, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Interview with the pilot yielded statment to the effect that he [privacy data omitted] had lost his orientation in reference to a three strand barded…

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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