Aerospatiale SA316B accident near Snyder, Texas, July 4, 1993
On July 4, 1993 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA316B (helicopter), registered N3154Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Snyder, Texas. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL THROUGH LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. FACTORS WERE HIGH WINDS, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND FAILURE TO JETTISON THE EXTERNAL LOAD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1993 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Snyder, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA316B
- Registration
- N3154Y · no longer on the register · serial 1428
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING A SEISMOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT DROP UTILIZING A CAROUSEL AND 50 FOOT LONG LINE, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A LEFT TURN AND DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND FOLLOWING THE FIRST DROP. DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000 FEET, WINDS WERE GREATER THAN 25 KNOTS FROM THE SOUTH AND THE HELICOPTER WAS WORKING GENERALLY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH ALONG A GRID PATTERN. THE AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT WAS 400 POUNDS BELOW MAXIMUM CERTIFIED GROSS WEIGHT, AND EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT PROVIDED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 60 in the last 90 days; 3,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,759 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 3, 1993; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,850 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Geo-Seis Helicopters, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from LBB, 85 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.