20000218010219A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 500C · Pohnei, Guam · February 18, 2000

Date: February 18, 2000 · 11:08 local
Place: Pohnei, Guam
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N437DS
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX00LA109

N437DSRegistration cancelled May 6, 2015 · Hughes 500CS/N 530476S · Built 1973 Airframe modelHughes 500C Engine modelAllison 250-C20 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Helicopter departed fishing vessel at approx 1108 hrs LCL, 200 miles south east of Pohnei. At approx 100-150 ft, the helicopter experienced an uncommanded right turn, followed by an uncontrollable right spin until the helicopter impacted the water. Upon impacted, right float legs separated, helicopter rolled on its right side and sank. Both crew members were rescued by ships crew with no injuries. No unusual noises were observed prior to crash.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) HELICOPTER DEPARTED FISHING VESSEL AT APPROX 1108 HRS LCL, 200 MILES SOUTH EAST OF POHNEI. AT APPROX 100-150 FT, THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED RIGHT TURN, FOLLOWED BY AN UNCONTROLLABLE RIGHT SPIN UNTIL THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE WATER. UPON IMPACTED, RIGHT FLOAT LEGS SEPARATED, HELICOPTER ROLLED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE AND SANK. BOTH CREW MEMBERS WERE RESCUED BY SHIPS CREW WITH NO INJURIES. NO UNUSUAL NOISES WERE OBSERVED PRIOR TO CRASH.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX00LA109Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPohnpei (Pacific Ocean)The pilot reported that he and the observer were planning to conduct tuna spotting operations. This was to be the first flight of the day. After takeoff, about 100 to 150 feet above sea level, the helicopter began an uncommanded right turn, followed by an…Feb 18, 2000 · Destroyed