Aerospatiale SA316B accident near Meeteetse, Wyoming, August 20, 1990
On August 20, 1990, a Aerospatiale SA316B (helicopter), registered N83776, was destroyed in an accident near Meeteetse, Wyoming. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people were seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A MAIN ROTOR HEAD BLADE DAMPENER FAILURE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF A BLADE RESTRAINING CABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1990
- Place
- Meeteetse, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA316B
- Registration
- N83776 · no longer on the register · serial 1827
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT 1 TO 1 VIBRATION THROUGH THE CYCLIC. THIS TYPE VIBRATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH MAIN ROTOR DAMPERS AND THE PILOT 'STIRRED' THE CYCLIC IN AN EFFORT TO PURGE AIR OUT OF THE BLADE DAMPERS. THIS ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IT RECURRED AND COULD NOT BE ELIMINATED. THE VIBRATION INCREASED TO THE POINT OF LOSS OF CONTROL. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED WITH TOUCHDOWN OCCURRING AT ABOUT 60 KNOTS. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST INVERTED AND WAS LARGELY CONSUMED BY POST-IMPACT FIRE. METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS ON A FAILED BLADE RESTRAINING CABLE REVEALED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN A LOW CYCLE FATIGUE MODE CONSISTENT WITH A SECONDARY CAUSE, AND DUE TO SHORT TERM VIBRATIONS. IN ADDITION TO FATIGUE, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF PLASTIC DEFORMATION DUE TO VIBRATORY LOADS FROM THE DAMPER SYSTEMS. FIRE DAMAGE PREVENTED ADDITIONAL FAILURE ANALYSIS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,635 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 50 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,850 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca 316B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 4 |
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.