Aerospatiale AS-350B N350SM

Summary

On 16 September 1992 at about 21:00 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350B registered N350SM, operated by Hawaii Hellicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Hana, Hawaii, United States. 7 people were on board and 7 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 1992 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hana, Hawaii, United States

Coordinates

20.7708, -155.9900

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS-350B

Registration

N350SM

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Hawaii Hellicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kahului → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92FA388

7 people died.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.