Aerospatiale SA-315B accident near Dubois, Wyoming, July 10, 1988
On July 10, 1988 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA-315B (helicopter), registered N47274, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dubois, Wyoming. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 10, 1988 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dubois, Wyoming
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-315B · all SA-315Bs on the register
- Registration
- N47274 · no longer on the register · serial 2449
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,890 hours in all; 6,122 in this make and model; 290 in the last 90 days; 10,890 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1988; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,070 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE 3B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters,Inc
The flight
- Departed from: U25 at 1:00 pm
- Destination: U25
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.