Aerospatiale SA-315-B accident near West Bay, Florida, October 29, 1984
On October 29, 1984 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA-315-B (helicopter), registered N49504, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Bay, Florida. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- October 29, 1984 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- West Bay, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-315-B · all SA-315-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N49504 · no longer on the register · serial 2474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED FOLLOWING A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR CONTROL WHILE ON AN EXTERNAL LOAD AGRICULTURAL FLT. WITNESSES STATED THAT DURING A LANDING ATTEMPT AT A LOADING AREA THE ACFT STARTED SPINNING, THE EXT LOAD WAS JETTISONED, AND THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PITCH CHANGE DRUM, PN 3160566-00-009-1, WAS WORN THROUGHOUT ITS INTERIOR ALUMINUM SPLINES. THE PITCH CONTROL DRUM HAD BEEN REMOVED ON AUG 9, 1984 AND THE ACFT MANUAL STATES THAT EACH TIME THE DRUM IS REMOVED IT IS TO BE VISUALLY CHECKED FOR WEAR. BETWEEN AUG 9 AND OCT 29 1984, THE ACFT WAS EXPOSED TO 236.9 HRS OF OPERATING TIME.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,230 hours in all; 200 in the last 90 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,470 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Artouste III B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from TLH, 57 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.