# NTSB WPR24LA138: Aerospatiale SA315B, N42PL, Lewiston, ID, May 2, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 2, 2024, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, ID - Coordinates: 46.408, -116.90316 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4080&lon=-116.9032&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 194210 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194210/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194210 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA138 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during a low level aerial application. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while performing an aerial application on a field, the helicopter struck a set of power lines that he was previously aware of and had been working around during the flight. Following the impact with wires, he initiated a forced landing to a field. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, transmission, tail rotor drive shaft, and tail boom. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N42PL (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA315B - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2438 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 10601.8 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARTOUSTE IIIB1 590 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Essential Flight Operations LLC - Registered owner: Essential Flight Operations LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2024, 21.3 hours before - Departed: S84, COTTONWOOD, ID - Destination: LWS, LEWISTON, ID - Airport: N/A - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review March 21, 2024; seat: right; flight hours: 1,993 total, 512 in this make and model, 1,847 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 60 °F - Observed at: LWS, 6 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 20240502004979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240502004979A), May 2, 2024: Aerospatiale SA315B, Lewiston, ID, Substantial damage. During the last load of the day, the pilot attempted to finish dispensing near the edge of the field. The pilot was aware of both the larger high tension… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194210. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17170516&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photograph (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 710 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17169931&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photograph-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. --- 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.