Aerospatiale AS-350D N5771L
28 February 1994 · Huelo, Hawaii, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 28 February 1994 at about 18:00 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350D registered N5771L, operated by Papillon Helicopters Inc., was involved in an incident near Huelo, Hawaii, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:00
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- Huelo, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 20.8693, -156.4507
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350D
- Registration
- N5771L
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Papillon Helicopters Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Kahului → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94IA145
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Probable cause
THE OPERATOR MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL'S INADEQUATE 100-HOUR INSPECTION. THE LOOSE FUEL CONTROL LINE FITTING, THE TREE STUMP, AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN WERE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE DECELERATION DURING A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND LANDED IN A CONFINED AREA SURROUNDED BY VEGETATION. A TREE STUMP PENETRATED THE LEFT LOWER SECTION OF THE HELICOPTER. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION AND POSTACCIDENT ENGINE RUN-UP REVEALED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 58 PERCENT AND THAT THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT LINE WAS LOOSE AND WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE OPERATOR REPLACED THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT 2 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS-350D accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Lebec, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 Mar 1992 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Ft. Grant, Arizona, United States | Southwest Helicopters | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Oct 1991 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Hawallian HEL. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1990 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Berwick, Louisiana, United States | Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 28 Dec 1999 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Avalon, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1989 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Spring Valley, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 1994 | Piper PA-28-140 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | David Michael Goff | Fatal | 2 |
| 13 Feb 1994 | Schweizer 2-33-A | Dillingham, Hawaii, United States | Soar Hawaii, Ltd. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Feb 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B | Humuula, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Hawaiian Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Oct 1994 | Beechcraft C-23 | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 1994 | Hughes 369D | Hi. Nat'l Park, Hawaii, United States | Mauna KEA Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Oct 1994 | Eurocopter AS-350D | Kaupo, Hawaii, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |