Aerospatiale 341G accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, June 10, 1982
On June 10, 1982 at about 11:27 pm local time, a Aerospatiale 341G (helicopter), registered N341BB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 10, 1982 · about 11:27 pm local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale 341G
- Registration
- N341BB · no longer on the register · serial 1421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LIFTED OFF TO A 5 FT HOVER WITH 4 PASSENGERS AND 70 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE HOVER CHECK, ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE IN THE GREEN WITH THE TURBINE OUTLET TEMPERATURE AT 550 DEGREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND CLIMB INTO THE WIND WHEN THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN DROPPING. AT THAT TIME, HE ESTIMATED THAT HIS ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 10 FT AGL AND HIS GROUND SPEED WAS ABOUT 3 TO 4 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING AND STILL MOVING FORWARD AS THE PITCH WAS INCREASED TO CUSHION THE GROUND CONTACT. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 9800 FT.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 4,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,052 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Astazou III (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLG Flagstaff AZ at 4:25 pm
- Destination: FLG Flagstaff AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.