# NTSB MIA82DA116: Aerospatiale SA-319B, N90825, Jacksonville, FL, May 7, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1982, 12:05 local (16:05 UTC)
- Place: Jacksonville, FL
- Coordinates: 30.289356, -81.640083 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2894&lon=-81.6401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 7, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71174
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA82DA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71174/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82DA116

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, other crewmember (cause)
  - rotor system - foreign object damage (cause)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND CREW WERE USING AN AIR AMBULANCE HELICOPTER WHILE PARTICIPATING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN A SIMULATED DISASTER DRILL. DURING THE DRILL, THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF WITH TWO OTHER OCCUPANTS THAT HAD VOLUNTEERED TO ACT AS IMMOBILIZED PATIENTS. WITH THIS LOAD, IT WAS NECESSARY TO FLY WITH THE RIGHT CARGO DOOR OPEN. WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH ABOUT 600 FT AGL, A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PILOT SUSPECTED A LOSS OF THE TAIL ROTOR AND ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT A HIGH RATE OF SINK AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A STRAP, NORMALLY USED TO SECURE CARGO AND PATIENTS, HAD DEPARTED THE CABIN AREA THROUGH THE OPEN CARGO DOOR. THE STRAP HAD BECOME ENTANGLED ON THE TAIL ROTOR. ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS TORN OFF ABOUT FOUR INCHES FROM THE HUB.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N90825 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA-319B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2180
- Airframe hours: 4544
- Engines: TURBOMECA ASTA20-UX1VB 856 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters
- Registered owner: Rocky Mountain Helicopters
- Departed: JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Destination: JACKSONVILLE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 5,577 total, 561 in this make and model, 5,299 as pilot in command, 149 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 171 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRG, 8 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 19820507014589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820507014589A), May 7, 1982: Aerosp SA319B, Jacksonville, FL, Substantial damage. Unsecured cargo strap blew out open door and tangled in tail rotor, causing loss of control. Made hard auto landing

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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