Aerospatiale SA-315B accident near Salina, Utah, June 10, 1984
On June 10, 1984 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA-315B (helicopter), registered N29907, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salina, Utah. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- June 10, 1984 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Salina, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-315B · all SA-315Bs on the register
- Registration
- N29907 · registry record · serial 2053-20
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS ON A MAINTENANCE CHECK FLT AFTER THE MAIN ROTOR SHAFT ASSEMBLY THRUST BEARING HAD BEEN REPLACED AFTER THE ACFT HAD YAWING PROBLEMS AND POPPING SOUNDS AT HIGH PITCH SETTINGS WHILE LIFTINGS LOADS. THE PLT TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE TEST AND AS COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS INCREASED A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA AND THE ACFT LOST POWER. THE ACFT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE CONTROLS, ACCODING TO THE PLT, WHEN HE TRIED TO KEEP THE ACFT LEVEL AND CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT. WHEN GROUND CONTACT WAS MADE THE ACFT BOUNCED AND ROLLED OVER. A TEARDOWN OF THE CLUTCHAND TRANSMISSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,132 hours in all; 405 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1984; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE 3 B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.