S.N.I.A.S. AS350D ASTAR accident near Houma, Louisiana, July 29, 1985
On July 29, 1985 at about 10:01 pm local time, a S.N.I.A.S. AS350D ASTAR (helicopter), registered N3607C, was destroyed in an accident near Houma, Louisiana. It was a positioning 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
- July 29, 1985 · about 10:01 pm local time
- Place
- Houma, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- S.N.I.A.S. AS350D ASTAR AS350D AST
- Registration
- N3607C · registry record · serial 1244
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED AT A MICROWAVE ANTENNA TOWER AND DID NOT SHUT DOWN THE ENG OR DEPLANE. AN EMPLOYEE AT THE TOWER RETRIEVEDCARGO FROM THE HELICOPTER (A SMALL BOX OF PARTS) AND WENT BACK INSIDE THE TOWER BUILDING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PLT APPARENTLY INITIATED HIS TAKEOFF IN A DIRECTION WHICH WOULD TAKE THE HELICPOTER UNDERNEATH ON OF THE TOWER GUY WIRES. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED AND SEPARATED ONE OF THE GUY WIRES. THE HELICOPTER THEN DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT. THE HELICOPTER'S SKIDS WERE ABOUT 30 FT AGL WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED THE WIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT HAD THE PLT COMPLETED THE ACCIDENT FLT HE WOULD HAVE ARRIVED HOME LATER THAN HE INTENDED.
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: 4,940 hours in all; 1,407 in this make and model; 192 in the last 90 days; 4,592 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,252 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 25, 1985; 16 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: Houma LA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: LFT Lafayette LA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 pm from HUM, 4 miles away
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.