# NTSB Accident DEN02GA085
> **Aerospatiale SA315B** · 2002-07-31 · Estes Park, CO, USA · FATL
## Event
- **NTSB number:** DEN02GA085
- **Event ID:** 20020808X01330
- **Type:** Accident
- **Date:** 2002-07-31
- **Location:** Estes Park, CO, USA
- **Coordinates:** 40.29972, -105.44889
## Injuries
- **Highest injury:** FATL
- **Fatal:** 1
- **Serious:** 0
- **Minor:** 0
- **Uninjured:** 0
- **Total aboard:** 1
## Aircraft
- **Make:** Aerospatiale
- **Model:** SA315B
- **Registration:** N3978Y
- **FAR Part:** PUBU
- **Engines:** 1
- **Damage:** DEST
## Conditions
- **Light:** DAYL
- **Weather:** VMC
## 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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*Source: [NTSB CAROL](https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search?source=ntsb&type=event&ntsb_number=DEN02GA085) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*