Aerospatiale SA-341G accident near Long Beach, California, August 10, 1982
On August 10, 1982 at about 10:22 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA-341G (helicopter), registered N118EF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- August 10, 1982 · about 10:22 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-341G · all SA-341Gs on the register
- Registration
- N118EF · no longer on the register · serial 1239
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED FOR DUAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION OF SEVERAL STUDENTS. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) STATED THAT HE HELD THE CONTROLS WHILE HIS SECOND STUDENT EXITED AND THE THIRD STUDENT GOT IN AND ADJUSTED HIS SEAT AND PEDALS. AFTER PERFORMING THE BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKS, THE STUDENT PILOT BEGAN TO BRING THE HELICOPTER TO A HOVER. AS THE STUDENT BEGAN TO HOVER, THE IP LOOKED TO THE LEFT IN THE DIRECTION THAT THEY INTENDED TO HOVER. HE STATED THAT BEFORE HE COMPLETED THE CLEARING GLANCE, HE FELT THE HELICOPTER PITCH FORWARD AND TO THE RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FORWARD PART OF THE RIGHT SKID HIT THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE IP STATED THAT HE TOOK CONTROL AND FELT EXTREME RIGHT/FORWARD PRESSURE ON THE CYCLIC, THE RIGHT PEDAL FELT STUCK, AND THE COLLECTIVE HAD AN EXTREME DOWNWARD PRESSURE. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE 3 MAIN HYDRAULIC SERVOS AND TAIL ROTOR SERVO WERE FOUND OPERTIONAL. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT STRUCTURAL FAILURE WAS FOUND.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,987 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 227 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 3,349 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,399 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,970 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ASTAZOU IIIA (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Heli Flight Systems, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 3:22 pm
- Destination: LGB Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.