Aerospatiale SA316B accident near Red Lodge, Montana, July 19, 1987
On July 19, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA316B (helicopter), registered N48184, was substantially damaged in an accident near Red Lodge, Montana. 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
- July 19, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Red Lodge, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA316B
- Registration
- N48184 · no longer on the register · serial 1906
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID HE WAS GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF FROM A 9400-FT MSL LANDING ZONE A TOP A MOUNTAIN 7 MI SSW OF RED LODGE, MT. THE PLAT SAID THE HELICOPTER WAS POSITIONED ON A SLIGHT NORTH-SOUTH SLOPE AND POINTED TOWARDS THE WEST. THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTH GUSTING TO APRX 30 TO 40 KTS. THE PLT SAID THE ENG WAS RUNNING AND HE WAS ABOUT TO ENGAGE THE MAIN ROTOR. THE WIND SUDDENLY PITCHED THE HELICOPTER UP LATERALLY, LEFT TO RIGHT, AND BLEW IT OVER ON ITS 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 11,127 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,826 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 29, 1987; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,960 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE 111B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pegasus Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 35 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 120 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.
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.