Aerospatiale AS350D N35970
19 August 1989 · Volcano, Hawaii, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 19 August 1989 at about 19:10 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350D registered N35970, operated by Papillon Helicopters, Ltd, was involved in an accident near Volcano, Hawaii, United States. 7 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 5 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Volcano, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 19.6905, -155.0797
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350D
- Registration
- N35970
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Papillon Helicopters, Ltd
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Waikoloa → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX89LA281
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
Probable cause
A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE POWER TURBINE SHAFT AND BEARINGS. THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF OIL STARVATION DUE TO AN EXCESSIVELY WORN CHIP DETECTOR O-RING SEAL,INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND PREFLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE VFR SIGHT-SEEING FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNER 14 CFR 135. WHILE DESCENDING INTO A MOUNTAINOUS AREA THE PILOT FELT A SEVERE VIBRATION ABT 10 - 15 SECONDS BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PLT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION IN THE UPWARD SLOPING TERRAIN AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED-OVER ON TOUCHDOWN. THE ENGINE EXAM DSCLSD THAT THE POWER TURBINE SHAFT AND THE NOS. 2 & 3 BEARINGS FAILED DUE TO OIL STARVATION AND DISPLAYED EXTREME HIGH TEMPERATURE DISTRESS. THE CHIP DETECTOR O-RING SEAL WAS EXCESSIVELY WORN. OIL RESIDUE STREAKING WAS FOUND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE/ TAILCONE ASSY AND THE VERTICAL/HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS350D accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1989 | Aerospatiale AS350D | Long Beach, California, United States | Island Express Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 May 1989 | Aerospatiale AS350D | Waialae Falls, Hawaii, United States | Papillion Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Aug 1989 | Aerospatiale AS350D | Carson City, Nevada, United States | Aris Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1987 | Aerospatiale AS350D | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | Jones, Jones & Welch | No injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 1991 | Aerospatiale AS350D ASTAR | Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States | Equipment Leasors of PA, Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 23 Mar 1986 | Aerospatiale AS350D | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Damin Aviation Corp. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 1989 | Emair MA1-B | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 1989 | Bryce Duster BJ-1B | Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Feb 1989 | Boeing 747-122 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | United Airlines | Fatal | 9 |
| 11 Jun 1989 | Beechcraft H18 | Waipio Valley, Hawaii, United States | - | Fatal | 11 |
| 31 Oct 1989 | Beechcraft 77 | Kalihi, Hawaii, United States | Great Bend Air, Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Oct 1989 | De Havilland DHC-6-300 | Halawa, Molokai, Hawaii, United States | - | Fatal | 20 |