On December 11, 1995, an Aerospatiale SA 315 (registration N27387) operated by Gold Kist, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Manning, SC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to maintain control during the forced landing after a total loss of engine power during initial climb. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A helicopter experienced total engine power loss during initial climb after takeoff. The pilot attempted a forced landing but impacted trees and terrain.
What happened
The pilot reported experiencing a total loss of engine power while the aircraft was in the initial climb phase following takeoff. In response to the emergency, he attempted an autorotation maneuver to maintain control and descend safely. Despite these efforts, the helicopter impacted trees and terrain during the forced landing sequence.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the helicopter engine to determine the cause of the power loss. The examination did not reveal any discrepancies that would have caused the engine to lose power. To further verify the engine's condition, it was placed in a test cell where it ran normally.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain control during the forced landing after a total loss of engine power during initial climb.