Aerospatiale AS-350D accident near Venice, Louisiana, May 18, 1983
On May 18, 1983 at about 3:56 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350D (helicopter), registered N36062, was destroyed in an accident near Venice, Louisiana. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- May 18, 1983 · about 3:56 pm local time
- Place
- Venice, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350D · all AS-350Ds on the register
- Registration
- N36062 · no longer on the register · serial 1237
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A SWAMP WITH LOW ROTOR RPM AFTER A FAILURE OF THE ACCESSORY GEARBOX POWER OUTPUT GEAR. THE PILOT RADIOED AN EMERGENCY CALL SAYING HE WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERE VIBRATIONS AND WAS LANDING. A FEW SECONDS LATER, HE RADIOED THAT HE WAS CRASHING. RESCUE ACFT FOUND THE HELICOPTER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE PARTIALLY IN WATER. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THEFAILED GEAR BOX RESULTED IN LOW ROTOR SPEED WHICH WAS NOT RECOVERED DUE TO LACK OF ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE POWER TURBINE OUTPUT (PTO) GEAR, PN 4-081-044-15, FAILED FROM LOW STRESS, HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE. THE FATIGUE ORIGINATED AT A POINT WERE REHARDENING BURNS CAUSED BY GRINDING WERE PRESENT. THIS GRINDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE GEAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN CARBURIZED. THE PROCEDURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED PRIOR TO CARBURIZATION WHEN THE MATERIAL SURFACE WAS MUCH SOFTER & LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO GRINDING BURNS.
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: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,340 hours in all; 1,469 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 4,649 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,987 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,190 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101-600A2 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: West Delta GM
- Destination: 7R1 Venice LA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from NEW
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.