NTSB investigations: Aerospatiale SA315B

6 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Aerospatiale SA315B, where the first occurrence was “Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19822026

NTSB investigations: Aerospatiale SA315B per year, 1982–2026: 6 cases
1982	2
1984	1
1985	1
1988	1
1992	1

Where

Open the map

Latest cases

Query with SQL

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('8680615') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 351)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('8680615')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 351))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('8680615')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 351))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB SEA92LA076Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAerospatiale SA315B · Magna, UTThe overheat of the engine combustion section, and the failure of the turbine blades.Apr 13, 1992 · N315DY · Substantial damage NTSB DEN88FA151Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportAerospatiale SA-315B · Dubois, WYJul 10, 1988 · N47274 · Substantial damage NTSB DEN85FA241Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAerospatiale SA315B · Craig, COThe helicopter was long-lining a 1280-pound air compressor to an 8500-foot MSL mountain drilling site. Witnesses heard a squealing sound and bang. They observed gray-white smoke and orange-blue flame emitting from the exhaust. The plt released the load and…Sep 14, 1985 · N3836E · Destroyed NTSB DEN84LA292Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAerospatiale SA315B Lama · Mountain View, WYThe helicopter experienced a loss of power during an external load operation. The plt released the load and performed an autorotation. A hard landing resulted during which the tail boom was severed by the main rotor blades. Metallurgical examination of the…Sep 17, 1984 · N49532 · Substantial damage NTSB DEN82DA159Accident · No injuriesFinal reportAerospatiale SA-315B · Afton, WYEn route during a seismic operation a loud screeching, grinding sound was heard. The pilot reported the aircraft seemed to buck. A long flame emitting from the aft end of the aircraft was observed by witnesses. The engine ceased and the aircraft crashed into…Aug 9, 1982 · N10067 · Destroyed NTSB DEN82FTC03Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportAerospatiale SA315B · Big Piney, WYThe acft was engaged in seismic activity supplying explosives by long line. The eng failed at about 400-500 ft AGL. The load was released & an open field was selected. At about 150 ft AGL the plt was unable to maintain rotor RPM & the acft impacted the ground…Apr 20, 1982 · N9007N · Destroyed