# NTSB NYC83FA244: Sud SA316B, N72590, Pittsburgh, PA, September 17, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 17, 1983, 10:41 local (14:41 UTC)
- Place: Pittsburgh, PA
- Coordinates: 40.439544, -79.98011 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4395&lon=-79.9801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35079
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FA244
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35079/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FA244

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A FLT TO TRANSPORT AN ACUTELY ILL PATIENT FROM ONE HOSPITAL TO ANOTHER. THE AIRCREW CONSISTED OF A PLT & TWO FLT NURSES. DURING ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION, THE PLT BEGAN AN APCH TO AN ATHLETIC FIELD THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY TALL BLDGS & A POWER LINE. THE PLT SAID THE APCH WAS MADE ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING WITH THE WIND FROM 230 DEG AT 7 KTS. AT ABOUT 45 FT AGL WITH AN AIRSPEED OF APRX 25 KTS, TRANSLATIONAL LIFT WAS LOST & THE HELICOPTER YAWED LEFT. THE APPLICATION OF FULL RIGHT ANTI-TORQUE PEDAL FAILED TO STOP THE YAW. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN IN A LEFT YAW & THE PLT APPLIED COLLECTIVE. IT BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN, STILL IN A LEFT YAW, THEN THE NOSE GEAR STRUCK THE GROUND & THE ROTOR BLADES STRUCK A BRICK WALL OF A BUILDING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE FIELD. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT DESCREPANCIES. THE FLT NURSES REPORTED THAT THE APCH SEEMED HIGHER & FASTER THAN NORMAL. APRX 7 MI NNW AT PITTSBURG, PA, THE WIND WAS FROM 260 DEG AT 10 KTS. THE PLT HAD APRX 30 HRS WITH CLOCKWISE/FRENCH ROTOR SYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N72590](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N72590-1995-05-19), registration cancelled 1995-05-19, S/N 1509 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SUD AVIATION SA316B
- Registry model: [Sud SA316B ALOUETTE III](https://openairdocs.org/model/sud-sa316b-alouette-iii) (registry code 8680207) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1509
- Airframe hours: 5749
- Engines: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB 562 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Rocky Mountain Helicopter Serv
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 10, 1983, 24 hours before
- Departed: MONOGAHELA, PA
- Destination: PITTSBURGH, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,432 total, 30 in this make and model, 2,077 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AGC, 7 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 19830917075449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830917075449A), Sep 17, 1983: Aerosp SA316B, Pittsburgh, PA, Destroyed. Helicopter settled with power and touched down hard causing damage to rotocraft but no injuries.

## Other investigations on N72590 (2)

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 DEN88FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA091), Apr 2, 1988: Aerospatiale SA316B (N72590), Silver Plume, CO, substantial damage
- [NTSB NYC83LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83LA028), Nov 13, 1982: Aerospatiale SA316B (N72590), West Mifflin, PA, 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.

---
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.