Schweizer 300C N61414

Summary

On 25 February 1994 at about 06:20 local time, a Schweizer 300C registered N61414, operated by Fong Seong Fisheries, was involved in an accident near Pacific Ocean. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 February 1994 at 06:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Pacific Ocean

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Schweizer 300C

Registration

N61414

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Fong Seong Fisheries

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ship Fong Seong → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94LA196

Nobody was injured.

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS USED FOR FISH-SPOTTING OPERATIONS FROM A FISHING VESSEL IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE PILOT PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT RUN-UP AT WHICH TIME ALL INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL; THEN HE DEPARTED FROM THE SHIP LANDING PAD. AFTER TAKE OFF, THE PILOT WAS NOTIFIED THAT BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT REACTED BY TURNING THE HELICOPTER BACK TOWARD THE SHIP FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. ABOUT 70 METERS FROM THE SHIP, THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO 2,600 AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. AS THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED TO THE LEVEL OF THE FLIGHT DECK, THE PILOT RECOGNIZED THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO LAND ON THE SHIP, AND TURNED AWAY. HE STATED THAT HE WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 70 FEET MSL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST ALL REMAINING POWER. AT THAT TIME, HE REPORTED HEARING 'SOME ABNORMAL SOUNDS FROM THE BACK OF THE AIRCRAFT.' THE FLOAT-EQUIPPED HELICOPTER DESCENDED INTO THE OCEAN AND CAPSIZED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.