Aerospatiale AS-355F accident near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, August 23, 1982
On August 23, 1982 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-355F (helicopter), registered N57807, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. 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 23, 1982 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-355F · all AS-355Fs on the register
- Registration
- N57807 · registry record · serial 5039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCREW LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WHILE MAKING A PEDAL TURN AT 800 TO 900 AGL. AFTER 5 ROTATIONS, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND, BOUNCED, ROLLED AND FELL ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. SWITCHES WERE CUT AND THE CREW MADE AN EXIT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS. IN THE HELICOPTER HANDBOOK, IT SAYS TO "USE PEDALS TO COMPENSATE FOR TORQUE. DO NOT USE TO ASSIST THE TURN." IN INVESTIGATIVE FLIGHT TESTS, MISUSE OF THE PEDALS RESULTED IN A SPINNING TUCKED DESCENT UNTIL RECOVERY WAS INITIATED.
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 single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,852 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 144 in the last 90 days; 5,010 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 78 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,109 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Cedar Rapids IA at 4:10 pm
- Destination: Cedar Rapids IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 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 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.