# NTSB SEA01LA043: S.N.I.A.S SE 3130 Alouette II, N31330, Driggs, ID, January 29, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 29, 2001, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Driggs, ID - Coordinates: 43.747776, -111.083335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7478&lon=-111.0833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51411 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51411/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Roll over, landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that the flight was uneventful until the landing. When the helicopter touched down on the ramp, the cyclic control began to shake "very violently" in his hand along with the helicopter starting to move forward and aft. The pilot thought that it might be ground resonance and lifted off to a hover. The condition worsened, and the pilot increased the hover. The helicopter began to oscillate and the pilot could not stabilize the movement. The pilot then turned the helicopter to the left then back to the right to verify the location of a fuel truck. When the truck was locate, the pilot lowered the collective to land. The right rear skid contacted the surface first and the helicopter rocked forward and to the right. The helicopter rolled to the right, coming to rest on its right side. Post-accident inspection of the main rotor dampers found no mechanical failures or malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On January 29, 2001, at 1630 mountain standard time, a S.N.I.A.S. SE 3130 Alouette II, N31330, registered to and operated by J.H. Jet as a 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight, rolled over on the ramp at Reed Memorial airport, Driggs, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the airline transport pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Driggs about one hour and 30 minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that the local sightseeing flight was uneventful. When they returned to the airport, the pilot entered into a hover over the departure end of runway 21 to hover taxi to the ramp. The pilot stated that the helicopter touched down on the ramp and he lowered the collective to unload the main rotor blades. At this point the cyclic control started shaking "very violently" in his hand along with the helicopter starting to move forward and aft. The pilot thought that it might be ground resonance and lifted the helicopter back off to about a three to six foot hover. The conditions worsened as the helicopter began to oscillate and could not be stabilized. The pilot raised the hover to about 10 to 12 feet, and lowered the collective thinking that it might reduce the movement. When that did not help, the pilot turned the helicopter about 90 degrees to verify the location of a fuel truck. When the truck was located, the pilot then turned the helicopter back to the right and prepared to touchdown, cautioning his passengers that the helicopter might roll after touchdown. During the landing, the right rear skid contacted the ground first and the helicopter tipped forward to the right and started to roll. The helicopter rolled over to the right and came to rest on its right side. After the accident, the main rotor dampers were removed from the helicopter. The mechanic from Teton Aviation Center, Driggs, Idaho, performing the inspection reported that, "Functional checks of the dampers showed normal operation. Disassembled dampers and inspected, found no obvious damage or hidden damage that would cause abnormal function." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31330](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31330), registered now, S/N 1133, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: S.N.I.A.S SE 3130 Alouette II - Registry model: [S N I A S SE 3130 ALOUETTE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-se-3130-alouette-ii) (registry code 8680502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ASTAZOU series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-astazou-series) (registry code 60020, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1133 - Airframe hours: 10001 - Engines: Turbomeca Artouste IIC5 496 hp turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: J. H. Jet - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 19, 2000, 3 hours before - Departed: U59, Driggs, ID - Destination: U59 - Airport: U59, Reed Memorial ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 11, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 12,773 total, 26 in this make and model, 106 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -9 °F ## 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 20010129001109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010129001109A), Jan 29, 2001: Snias SE3130, Driggs, ID, No damage. (-23) The pilot reported that upon landing as he lowered the collective, the cyclic control started to shake in his hand. The pilot thought the cyclic movement… 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.