Aerospatiale SA315B accident near Estes Park, CO
On July 31, 2002, an Aerospatiale SA315B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Estes Park, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 31, 2002
- Place
- Estes Park, CO
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale SA315B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.300°N, 105.449°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020808X01330
Official records · DEN02GA085
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 30, 2002, at 1843 mountain daylight time, an Aerospatiale SA315B, N3978Y, registered to Roberts Aircraft Co., Granite Canyon, Wyoming, and operated by Geo-Seis Helicopters, Inc., Fort Collins, Colorado, was destroyed when it struck terrain while maneuvering 6 miles southeast of Estes Park, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from a staging area near Estes Park approximately 1840. The helicopter was engaged in fire suppression activities at the Big Elk fire near the Rocky Mountain National Park. According to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), several large unburned "islands," approximately 400 acres in size, were in the northwest section of Division B. Due to the abundance of fuel and topography, this area had the greatest potential for the fire to spread towards Estes Park. According to the USFS, the pilot's day began at 0745 when he was dispatched to the Big Elk Helibase, arriving there about 0800. After being briefed, the pilot began making water drop missions. At 1530, he transported fire managers and reconnoitered a fire area. It was determined that additional water bucket drops would be necessary to cool down certain areas, and pre-treat unburned areas. For the next two hours the pilot made a number of water drops. The pilot returned to the helibase about 1800 and the helicopter was refueled. The pilot took off approximately 1820 and made two additional water drops. According to witnesses, as
Probable cause
the pilot's abrupt collective input during water application to a forest fire. Contributing factors were encountering a vortex ring state, the inadvertent settling with power, the low altitude, and the mountainous terrain.
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Browse: Colorado · 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.
