Aerospatiale SA-341G accident near Miami, Florida, January 31, 1991
On January 31, 1991 at about 11:05 am local time, a Aerospatiale SA-341G (helicopter), registered N341WC, was destroyed in an accident near Miami, Florida (Miami Heliport airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO INITIATE AN AUTOROTATION IN TIMELY MANNER FOLLOWING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS RESULTING IN LOSS OF ROTOR RPM AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1991 · about 11:05 am local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Miami Heliport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA-341G · all SA-341Gs on the register
- Registration
- N341WC · no longer on the register · serial 1188
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REAR SEAT PASSENGER RPT HEARING SEVERAL LOUD BANGS IN RAPID SUCCESSION IN AREA OF ENGINE SHORTLY AFTER T/O WHILE THE ACFT WAS AT 200 FEET AND 90 KNOTS. VIBRATION FROM THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WAS FELT SHORTLY AFTER THIS. THE PLT INITIATED A TURN BACK TO T/O AREA. IN THE TURN THE PLT NOTICED THE LOW ROTOR SPEED WARNING LIGHT WAS ON BUT THE LOW ROTOR WARNING HORN WAS NOT HEARD. THE ACFT WAS DESCENDING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE PLT DID NOT INITIATE AN AUTOROTATION NOR DID HE ACTIVATE THE FLOATS. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE WATER AT A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE LOW ROTOR WARNING HORN WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION. EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER AND ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE WHICH COULD BE CONSIDERED CASUAL TO THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,669 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 275 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 1,495 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,291 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 25, 1991; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,970 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ASTAZOU III A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: APF Naples FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from MIA, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.