Aerospatiale AS-350-B N350CB

Summary

On 16 November 1990 at about 06:30 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350-B registered N350CB, operated by Hawaii Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Kahului, Hawaii, United States. 7 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 November 1990 at 06:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kahului, Hawaii, United States

Nearest airport

Kahului (OGG)

Coordinates

20.8692, -156.4508

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS-350-B

Registration

N350CB

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Hawaii Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX91LA034

2 people had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT DEACTIVATION OF THE HELICOPTER'S HYDRAULIC BOOST SYSTEM AND HIS IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION THEREAFTER TO THE INFLIGHT SITUATIONS WHICH HE CREATED. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS RELATED TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE LOCATION AND DESIGN (SHAPE) OF THE HYDRAULIC TEST SWITCH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PURPOSE OF THE PLANNED 5 MIN LONG NIGHT FLIGHT WAS TO REWARD ONE OF THE OPERATOR'S CUSTOMER'S EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR SALES PERFORMANCE RECORD. THE FLT INVOLVED A VIEW OF THE CITY. THE PILOT HAD EARLIER MADE A SIMILAR FLT, & DURING TAKEOFF HE HAD TURNED OFF THE HELICOPTER'S LANDING LIGHT TO 'AMPLIFY THE VISUAL EFFECT' OF THE RUNWAY LIGHTS. THE HELICOPTER'S MANUFACTURER HAD DESIGNED THE LIGHT SWITCH TO BE LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE HYDRAULIC TEST SWITCH. UPON DEPRESSION OF THE LIGHT SWITCH THE HELICOPTER'S LIGHT TURNED OFF. UPON DEPRESSION OF THE HYD TEST SWITCH THE HYD BOOST SYSTEM DEACTIVATED, THE CONTROLS STIFFENED & A WARNING HORN SOUNDED. DURING THE AERIAL TAXI FOR TAKEOFF, BETWEEN 25 & 50 FT AGL, THE PILOT INADVERTNETLY MISTOOK & DEPRESSED THE HYD TEST SWITCH FOR THE LIGHT SWITCH, & THE WARNING HORN ACTIVATED. WHEN THE PILOT RELEASED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL TO SILENCE THE HORN THE COLLECTIVE LOWERED & THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED UNTIL TOUCHING DOWN HARD ON THE TAXIWAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.