Aerospatiale SA 315B accident near Fillmore, Utah, May 24, 1983
On May 24, 1983 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA 315B (helicopter), registered N90706, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fillmore, Utah. It was an other work-use flight 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
- May 24, 1983 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Fillmore, Utah · 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
- N90706 · no longer on the register · serial 2365
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENGAGED IN SEISMIL WORK, THE PLT WAS CONTACTED BY RADIO & WAS ASKED TO ASSIST IN FREEING 2 CREW TRUCKS THAT HAD GOTTEN STUCK IN SAND DUNES. HE DECIDED TO ASSIST SINCE THE STUCK TRUCKS WERE DELAYING THE ENTIRE OPERATION. HE PLANNED TO PARTIALLY RAISE & PULL ONE END OF A TRUCK BY USING A 100 FT LONG LINE. THE HELICOPTER WAS FACING THE AFT END OF THE TRUCK & LONG LINE WAS AT ABOUT A 25-30 DEG ANGLE WHEN CONTINUOUS COLLECTIVE POWER WAS APPLIED. BY THE PLT. THE HELICOPTER THEN YAWED LEFT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO COMPENSATE WITH RIGHT ANTI-TORQUE PEDAL, REDUCED POWER & INDUCED RIGHT FORWARD CYCLIC. REPORTEDLY, THE HELICOPTER THEN TURNED 360 DEG & CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. AT SOME POINT AFTER THE LEFT YAW, THE PLT RELEASED THE LONG LINE. THE COMPANY SAFETY OFFICER REPORTED THAT IF A 150 FT LONG LINE HAD BEEN USED, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LARGER MARGIN FOR ERROR.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,980 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,897 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 31, 1982; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,070 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.