Aerospatiale SA316B accident near Lima, Montana, October 26, 1984
On October 26, 1984 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA316B (helicopter), registered N8624, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lima, Montana. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. 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
- October 26, 1984 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Lima, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA316B
- Registration
- N8624 · no longer on the register · serial 1714
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APRX 35 MIN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE SEISMIC OPERATIONS BEING CONDUCTED ABOUT 10 MI NE WERE SECURED DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND HIGH WINDS. THE PLT ESTIMATED WIND TO HAVE BEEN FROM 180 DEG AT 40 KTS GUSTING TO 60. AS THE PLT APPROACHED THE LANDING ZONE DOWNWIND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE AND THE PLT BEGAN A RIGHT TURN INTO THE WIND. ACCORDING TO THE PLT AT APRX 75 FT AGL HE BEGAN TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE ACFT. NEARING THE GROUND HE PULLED ALL AVAILABLE COLLECTIVE PITCH BUT COULD NOT CONTROL THE SINK RATE. ON CONTACT WITH THE GROUND THE TAIL SPUN 20 TO 30 DEG TO THE LEFT AND THE ACFT ROLLED OVER ONTO IT'S RIGHT SIDE.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,725 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 15, 1984; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,960 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nor West Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 40 knots, gusting 60
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.