Aerospatiale AS350B N766MP
25 July 1991 · Kahului, Hawaii, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 25 July 1991 at about 01:15 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350B registered N766MP, operated by Papillon Airways, Inc., was involved in an accident near Kahului, Hawaii, United States. 6 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kahului, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 20.8694, -156.4499
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350B
- Registration
- N766MP
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Papillon Airways, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Kahului → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA339
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Probable cause
A NON-MECHANICAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL LOW LEVEL INDICATION SYSTEM.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE SIGHTSEEING HELICOPTER LANDED HARD DURING AN AUTOROTATION TO SLOPING TERRAIN AFTER EXPERIENCING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND 2 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANKS. AFTERWARDS, FUEL WAS ADDED AND THE ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY WITH NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS NOTED. THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATION SYSTEM REVEALED A MALFUNCTION OF THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE CRASH.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS350B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Oct 1991 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Lone Eagle Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Wixom, Michigan, United States | City of Detroit | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Cloverdale, California, United States | Resort Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jun 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Glacier, Washington, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 May 1992 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Winnsboro, South Carolina, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopters, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Saipan | Micronesian Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Aug 1991 | Cessna 172G | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Kainoa Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jan 1991 | Champion 7ECA | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | James N. Burdeaux | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-28-181 | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | Cosmo Flying School Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1991 | Schweizer 269C | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Pacific Aviation Group, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 14 Sep 1991 | Bell 47G2 | Keaau, Hawaii, United States | Koinoa Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 May 1991 | Hughes 369 | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Mauna KEA Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |