Aerospatiale AS-350B accident near Blanding, UT
On May 4, 2000, an Aerospatiale AS-350B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Blanding, UT. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 4, 2000
- Place
- Blanding, UT
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.550°N, 109.480°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X20971
Official records · DEN00FA084
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 4, 2000, approximately 1555 mountain daylight time, an Aerospatiale AS-350B helicopter, Canadian registration CGPTT, was destroyed during impact with terrain while maneuvering near Blanding, Utah. The commercial pilot and two passengers were fatally injured, and the other three passengers were seriously injured. The helicopter was being operated by Peace Helicopters Ltd., Edmonton, Alberta, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from landing zone 1 (LZ1) 10 minutes earlier. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot arrived in Blanding, Utah, on May 1, 2000, to relieve the project pilot working for a geophysical seismic team. On May 2, 2000, he flew a familiarization flight with the previous project pilot, and was briefed on operational procedures and environmental concerns. The previous project pilot stated that "when you live with, and fly for a geophysical seismic crew for 3 or 4 weeks, they get used to you; a new guy has to prove himself." The operator stated that this was the first time that the pilot had been on assignment in the United States. On May 3, 2000, the pilot flew his first day as the project pilot. In the afternoon, the Safety Officer of the geophysical project said that the pilot told him that this was "his first time to fly in the desert, and the [desert's unpredictable] winds." He also said that the pilot seemed "very brash." On May 4, 2000, the helicopter mechanic said that the helicopter was fueled at the LZ1 staging area (landing zone 1; N37 degrees 22.77', W1
Probable cause
the pilot's loss of aircraft control due to abrupt flight maneuvering. Contributing factors were the high density altitude weather condition, the total loss of engine power due to the pilot manually introducing excessive fuel into the engine and over temping the turbine section, and the lack of suitable terrain for the ensuing autorotation.
More accidents in UT
- Beech A100, Aug 22, 2008
- Swearingen SA-226TC, Jan 15, 1987
- Beech 65-A90, Jan 15, 2001
- Cessna T210L, May 7, 1995
- Gulfstream 690D, May 7, 1986
Browse: Utah · Aerospatiale aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
