Aerospatiale SA-315 accident near Stuart, Oklahoma, July 14, 2007
On July 14, 2007 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA-315 (helicopter), registered N5770F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stuart, Oklahoma. It was an external-load 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 loss of engine power due to a clogged fuel tube. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2007 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stuart, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-315 · all SA-315s on the register
- Registration
- N5770F · no longer on the register · serial 2593
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- External-load flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter experienced a loss of engine power while hovering out of ground effect while performing external load operations. While moving a heavy load , the helicopter's fuel light was reported to have flickered. The company's mechanic drained the tank, purged the fuel lines, and replaced the fuel filter. The helicopter was then filled with "clean fuel" and test flown for approximately 30-minutes; with no problems noted. After moving 2 or 3 more loads, and while repositioning the next load, the pilot "felt the engine surge slightly". All engine instruments appeared to be in the normal range and the pilot elected to continue to move the external load. The engine then "cut back to ground idle' and the helicopter descended through the trees. The engine was removed from the airframe, and shipped to an engine overhaul facility for further investigation. An initial examination of the engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. The engine was placed in a test cell for a full run-up. Two engine starts were attempted; however, the engine failed to start. After the first attempt, the idling device strainer was found clogged and was replaced. The engine was disassembled after the second failed attempt and the examination revealed that the fuel tube was clogged, and fuel was not getting to the fuel injection wheel in the engine. Fuel samples taken at the accident scene and at the engine examination, failed to find containments in the fuel. A lab test of the substance that was found in the fuel tube, failed to identify the foreign substance.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 6,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,620 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Artouste III (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skydance Operations INC
The flight
- Departed from: Stuart OK
- Destination: Stuart OK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from MLC
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.
Other NTSB records under N5770F 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.