Aerospatiale SA316B accident near Park City, Utah, November 28, 1989
On November 28, 1989 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA316B (helicopter), registered N62268, was substantially damaged in an accident near Park City, Utah. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was killed, 4 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAKE A VERTICAL TAKEOFF, WHILE DEPARTING WITH A CABLE ATTACHED, AND HIS FAILURE TO INSURE THE CABLE REMAINED CLEAR OF THE TRAILER. THE TRAILER (VEHICLE) WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 1989 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Park City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 4 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA316B
- Registration
- N62268 · no longer on the register · serial 2046
- 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 HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION TO MOVE EQUIPMENT FROM THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. A 100 FT CABLE WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE HELICOPTER WHEN WORKERS NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED UP THE HILL. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT INITIATED A NORMAL TAKEOFF, INSTEAD OF A VERTICAL TAKEOFF, WHICH HE HAD BEEN USING WITH THE CABLE ATTACHED. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE HOOK ON THE END OF THE CABLE SNAGGED ON AN EQUIPMENT TRAILER. THE HOOK BROKE FREE OF THE TRAILER AND THE CABLE REBOUNDED INTO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE HELICOPTER THEN BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND CRASHED.
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: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 1,625 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,692 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 7, 1989; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 | 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 N62268 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.