Aerospatiale SA315B accident near Meeker, Colorado, February 20, 1986
On February 20, 1986 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA315B (helicopter), registered N27387, was substantially damaged in an accident near Meeker, Colorado. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people 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
- February 20, 1986 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Meeker, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA315B · all SA315Bs on the register
- Registration
- N27387 · no longer on the register · serial 2625
- 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
DURING THE LIFT OFF THE RIGHT SKID TOE OF THE HELICOPTER CAUGHT A SEISMIC CABLE WHICH WAS COVERED BY APRX 2 FT OF SNOW. THE PLT STATED HE BROUGHT THE ACFT TO A HOVER AFTER OFF LOADING 2 PAX & STARTED A RIGHT SIDEWARD HOVER. WHEN THE SLACK WAS OUT OF THE SEISMIC CABLE, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED RIGHT, PAST THE CRITICAL ROLL ANGLE & ENCOUNTERED DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND AS A RESULT OF THE DYNAMIC ROLLOVER.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,114 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 3,828 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,373 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 1985; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Colorado Airlift, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CAG Craig CO at 4:00 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N27387 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.