# NTSB SEA89LA007: Aerospatiale SA341G, N401S, Fields, OR, October 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1988, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Fields, OR
- Coordinates: 42.170425, -118.35984 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1704&lon=-118.3598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40947
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40947/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA007

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - rotorcraft flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS HE WAS IN A SLOW DESCENDING TURN TO THE LEFT AT ABOUT 20 KTS (TRANSLATIONAL LIFT). THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY ROTATED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. HE ESTIMATED THAT THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL. HE APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL & THE ROTATION STOPPED IN A SLIGHT NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AFTER ABOUT 2 TURNS. ALSO, THE PLT NOTICED THAT THE ENG WAS NOT PROVIDING POWER; HE PRESUMED THE FUEL LIMITER HAD RESTRICTED THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENG, CAUSING A REDUCTION OF POWER. BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT APPLIED COLLECTIVE TO CUSHION THE LANDING, BUT THE RIGHT SKID WAS DAMAGED & THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWNWARD & CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM. THE DENSITY ALT WAS COMPUTED TO BE NEAR 6000 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N401S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA341G
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1509
- Airframe hours: 727
- Engines: TURBOMECA ASTAZOU III A 500 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph I. Eoff
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 28, 1988, 11 hours before
- Departed: DENIO, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 9,000 total, 68 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °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 19881004044449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881004044449A), Oct 4, 1988: Snias SA341G, Fields, OR, Substantial damage. Lost tail rotor control on approach to hover. Rotor RPM decayed on recovery crash landed. Blamed fuel limiter.

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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