Aerospatiale SA-318C accident near Skwentna, Alaska, July 15, 1982
On July 15, 1982 at about 4:52 am local time, a Aerospatiale SA-318C (helicopter), registered N4966, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska (Skwentna airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1982 · about 4:52 am local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · Skwentna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-318C
- Registration
- N4966 · no longer on the register · serial 2227
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN ALTITUDE OF 200 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A MODERATE VIBRATION. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS LEVELED OFF AND THE POWER REDUCED, THE VIBRATION STOPPED. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT AND DURING A CLIMB TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET THE VIBRATION BEGAN AGAIN WITH MORE INTENSITY. DURING LANDING THE RIGHT FRONT LANDING SKID TUBE BROKE CAUSING THE ROTOR BLADES TO FLEX AND CONTACT THE TAIL BOOM. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED ONE ROTOR BLADE HAD SHREDDED INFLIGHT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,080 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 2,080 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,573 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ASTAZOU IIA (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SKW Skwentna AK at 8:52 pm
- Destination: SKW Skwentna AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4966 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.