Hughes 369D N5172K
7 November 1993 · Pacific Ocean · Fatal
Summary
On 7 November 1993, a Hughes 369D registered N5172K, operated by Big EYE Helicopters Inc., was involved in an accident near Pacific Ocean. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Pacific Ocean
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D
- Registration
- N5172K
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Big EYE Helicopters Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Vessel Laura Z → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94LA041
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
AN UNDETERMINED EVENT THAT RESULTED IN THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED A FISHING VESSEL ON A FISH SPOTTING FLIGHT WITH THE PILOT AND A CREWMEMBER. ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AFTER DEPARTURE, THE HELICOPTER DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR ABOUT 27 MILES FROM THE VESSEL. NO COMMUNICATIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE HELICOPTER. A SEARCH OF THE AREA REVEALED FLOATING DEBRIS, AIRCRAFT FRAGMENTS, AND PERSONAL ITEMS. THE TWO CREW MEMBERS WERE NOT LOCATED AND WERE PRESUMED TO HAVE RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT RECOVERED AND WAS PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 375 MILES NORTHEAST OF MADANG, PAPUA, NEW GUINEA, IN THE BISMARCK SEA.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1993 | Hughes 369D | Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii, United States | Smokey Mountain Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 1993 | Hughes 369D | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Nov 1993 | Hughes 369HS | Antonia, Missouri, United States | Drug Enforcement Admin. | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Jul 1993 | Hughes 369D | Cordova, Alaska, United States | Soloy Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 1993 | Hughes 369HS | Talladega, Alabama, United States | Allison, David C. | Fatal | 1 |
| 28 Aug 1993 | Hughes 369D | Mount Iliamna, Alaska, United States | Soloy Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |