Aerospatiale SA315B accident near Near Central, Alaska, April 18, 1988
On April 18, 1988 at about 1:50 am local time, a Aerospatiale SA315B (helicopter), registered N65185, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Central, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 18, 1988 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Near Central, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA315B · all SA315Bs on the register
- Registration
- N65185 · no longer on the register · serial 2288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND LANDED AT THE 'HOT' REFUELING SITE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HELICOPTER FOR A CREW CHANGE. THE HOT REFUELING LANDING PAD CONSISTED OF A BLACK MEMBRANE WITH BUNDLES OF LATHS PLACED PERPENDICULAR TO THE HELICOPTER'S SKIDS TO PREVENT THE SKIDS FROM PUNCTURING THE MEMBRANE. THE PILOT LANDED ON THESE LATHS AND FRICTIONED THE CONTROLS DOWN AND LEFT THE ENGINE AND ROTOR BLADES OPERATING AT FULL RPM. WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HELICOPTER IT SHIFTED REARWARD. HE JUMPED BACK IN THE SEAT ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF THE GROUND, TURNED 180 DEGREES, AND CRASHED. THE REFUELER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,923 hours in all; 1,699 in this make and model; 109 in the last 90 days; 10,042 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 5,070 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 005° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.