# NTSB SEA80DYM10: Aerospatle SA315B, N55963, Mill City, OR, December 17, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 17, 1979
- Place: Mill City, OR · MILL CITY, OR
- Location: 44.7520° N, 122.4770° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mill City, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7520&lon=-122.4770&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132951
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA80DYM10
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80DYM10

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3098  79/12/17 NR.MILL CITY,OR       AEROSPATLE SA315B   CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1208                    N55963              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   39, 5495 TOTAL HOURS, 130
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MILL CITY,OR                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    IN FLIGHT: HOVERING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: GROUND CREWMAN
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - FOREST-TREES                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - SLING LOADED
        REMARKS- M/R BLADES HIT TRACTOR BUCKET DURING FERTILIZER BUCKET REPAIR OPNS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55963](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55963), registered now, S/N 2428, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATLE SA315B
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA315B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa315b) (registry code 8680615) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARTOUSTEIIIB](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-artousteiiib) (registry code 60003, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19791217035829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791217035829A), Dec 17, 1979: Aerosp SA315B, Mill City, OR, Substantial damage. Hovering external load helicopter main rotor hit ground vehicle. Pilot misjudged clearance.

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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