Aerospatiale SA315B accident near Magna, Utah, April 13, 1992
On April 13, 1992 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Aerospatiale SA315B (helicopter), registered N315DY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Magna, Utah. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE OVERHEAT OF THE ENGINE COMBUSTION SECTION, AND THE FAILURE OF THE TURBINE BLADES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1992 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Magna, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA315B · all SA315Bs on the register
- Registration
- N315DY · no longer on the register · serial 2622
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE AEROSPATIALE SA315B WAS ATTEMPTING TO LIFT AN EXTERNAL LOAD LIQUID DISPENSING BUCKET WHEN HE REACHED THE MAIN ROTOR PITCH LIMIT. HE THEREFORE REDUCED THE COLLECTIVE, AND AT THE SAME MOMENT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SETTLED ONTO THE BUCKET IT HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO LIFT, AND EVENTUALLY ROLLED OVER AND CONTACTED THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT, FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, THE ENGINE HAD EXPERIENCED AN OVER TEMPERATURE CONDITION, WHICH CAUSED THE TURBINE BLADES TO FAIL.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,106 hours in all; 3,842 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 9,106 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,973 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 10, 1992; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,070 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARTOUSTE IIIB (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.