Aerospatiale SA-316B accident near Mammoth Lakes, California, January 6, 1982
On January 6, 1982 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA-316B (helicopter), registered N608RA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mammoth Lakes, California (Mammoth Lakes airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 1982 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mammoth Lakes, California · Mammoth Lakes · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-316B
- Registration
- N608RA · registry record · serial 1166
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STARTED TO AIR TAXI THE HELICOPTER OUT OF A HANGAR. THERE WAS SNOW IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR THAT HAD BEEN ONLY PARTIALLY CLEARED AWAY. AS THE PILOT WAS EXITING THE HANGAR, HE RAISED THE AIRCRAFT TO GO OVER THE SNOW, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE HANGAR DOOR, AND A HARD LANDING FOLLOWED.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- 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 A-III-B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Roberts Aircraft Company
The flight
- Departed from: MMH Mammoth Lakes CA at 7:45 am
- Destination: MMH Mammoth Lakes CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 am from BIH, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX82DA039.