Aerospatiale SA 315B accident near Big Piney, Wyoming, July 2, 1982
On July 2, 1982 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA 315B (helicopter), registered N49532, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Piney, Wyoming. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 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 2, 1982 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Big Piney, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA 315B · all SA 315Bs on the register
- Registration
- N49532 · no longer on the register · serial 2500
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FELT A SHUDDER WHILE HE WAS TAKING OFF WITH A LONG LINE ATTACHED. HE BEGAN A DESCENT, AND WHEN THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT 5 FT ABOVE THE GROUND, THE LONG LINE CAUGHT A TREE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND THE ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE SNOW. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS LOCATED IN A MOUNTAINOUS SADDLE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 10,200 FT. THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 20 KTS.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 326 in this make and model; 118 in the last 90 days; 7,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,737 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,900 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Big Piney WY at 5:45 pm
- Destination: Big Piney WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°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 N49532 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.