# NTSB WPR22LA261: Aerospatiale SA342J, N342WF, Escalante, UT, July 18, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 18, 2022, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Escalante, UT
- Coordinates: 37.29, -111.14 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2900&lon=-111.1400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA261
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105532/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105532
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA261

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to control the helicopter’s descent rate during landing, which resulted in collision with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale SA342J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8680828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale SA342J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=8680828), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerospatiale SA342J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8680828), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, he was transporting supplies to a remote landing site and had made multiple approaches and landings. He stated that on the final approach, cloud cover had cleared and the helicopter “felt heavy.” About 25-30 ft above the ground the helicopter began to sink and he could not recover. The helicopter hit hard and tipped forward onto its nose during landing, substantially damaging the airframe and main rotors. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N342WF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N342WF), registered now, S/N 1470, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA342J
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale SA342J](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-sa342j) (registry code 8680828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ASTAZOU XIV H](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-astazou-xiv-h) (registry code 60018, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1470
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 3551
- Engines: Turbomeca Astazouxivh 850 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Extreme Dynamic Corp
- Registered owner: James Harkey
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2022, 97 hours before
- Departed: KCDC, Cedar City, UT
- Destination: 1L7, Escalante, UT
- Airport: N/A
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 190.3 total, 90 in this make and model, 114 as pilot in command, 112 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: KPGA, 27 nm away
- METAR: METAR KPGA 182153Z AUTO 26007KT 10SM CLR 37/07 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP106 T03670072=

## 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 20220718012459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220718012459A), Jul 18, 2022: Aerospatiale SA342J, Escalante, UT, Substantial damage. On 08/18/ 2022, the pilot[privacy data omitted] of a 1976 Aerospatiale gazelle sa 342 helicopter was flying the helicopter on a part 91 personal flight when he…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 11, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105532. 7.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14683378&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR22LA261_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 580 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14292568&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20WPR22LA261-Rel.pdf

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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