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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 16, 1992 · Aerospatiale AS-350B · N350SM

Hana, HI

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 16, 1992
Injury Outcomes
7 injuries (7 fatalities)
Location
Hana, HI
Aircraft
Aerospatiale AS-350B
Tail Number
N350SM
Operator
Hawaii Hellicopters
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX92FA388

The intended 45 minute sightseeing helicopter flight departed the airport at about 1032 hours. Adverse weather conditions including thunderstorms, rain showers, and poor visibility were reported in the vicinity of the accident site throughout the morning. The accident aircraft pilot had a radio conversation with another sightseeing tour pilot between 1055 hours and about 1100 hours. This pilot contacted the accident aircraft pilot to try to determine which route she should take to avoid the adverse weather. She reported the accident pilot's last conversation with her as 'Don't come down this way, the weather is getting real bad.' A witness located on the ground in the vicinity of the accident reported rain showers and mountain obscuration at about the time of the accident. He further stated that he saw a blue and white helicopter flying in and out of the clouds and he could not understand why a helicopter would be flying so close to the mountains in consideration of the adverse weather. Examination of the wreckage showed the helicopter impacted a 30 degree slope in a level 15 degree right bank. Wreckage and debris were scattered over a distance of about 175 feet from the initial impact location.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT INADEQUATELY EVALUATING THE ENROUTE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT MAKING THE INFLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO SEE AND AVOID THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DUE TO THE THUNDERSTORMS AND OBSCURATION.

Full Narrative

THE INTENDED 45 MINUTE SIGHT SEEING HELICOPTER FLIGHT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT AT ABOUT 1032 HOURS. ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS INCLUDING THUNDERSTORMS, RAIN SHOWERS, AND POOR VISIBILITY WERE REPORTED IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT PILOT HAD A RADIO CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER SIGHT SEEING TOUR PILOT BETWEEN 1055 HOURS AND ABOUT 1100 HOURS. THIS PILOT CONTACTED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT PILOT TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHICH ROUTE SHE SHOULD TAKE TO AVOID THE ADVERSE WEATHER. SHE REPORTED THE ACCIDENT PILOT'S LAST CONVERSATION WITH HER AS 'DON'T COME DOWN THIS WAY, THE WEATHER IS GETTING REAL BAD.' A WITNESS LOCATED ON THE GROUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT REPORTED RAIN SHOWERS AND MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION AT ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE SAW A BLUE AND WHITE HELICOPTER FLYING IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A HELICOPTER WOULD BE FLYING SO CLOSE TO THE MOUNTAINS IN CONSIDERATION OF THE ADVERSE WEATHER. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED A 30 DEGREE SLOPE IN A LEVEL 15 DEGREE RIGHT BANK. WRECKAGE AND DEBRIS WERE SCATTERED OVER A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 175 FEET FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT LOCATION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 HST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale AS-350B
Tail NumberN350SM
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHawaii Hellicopters
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsTurbomeca · ARRIEL 1B · Turboshaft · 640
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary7 injuries (7 fatalities)
Fatal7
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total7
Crew 1Age 44 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingOvercast 50 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data