20040708018869A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Snias AS 350 B2 · Paauilo, HI · July 8, 2004

Date: July 8, 2004 · 13:10 local
Place: Paauilo, HI
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: HCMA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N196BH
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04LA256
Reported as: Snias AS350B2
People aboard: 6
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 9,400 total4,828 in this make and model255 in the last 90 days

N196BHRegistration cancelled Aug 7, 2013 · Eurocopter AS 350 B2S/N 3036 · Built 1997 Airframe modelEurocopter AS 350 B2 Engine modelTurbomeca ARRIEL-1SERTurbo-shaft

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) During a sightseeing flight around the island of Hawaii the pilot became disoriented by weather and went IMC. A main rotor struck a tree as the pilot was maneuvering. A short time later the aircraft contacted the ground at slow speed. The skid struck a rock and rolled over. One passenger was injured in the crash.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT AROUND THE ISLAND OF HAWAII THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED BY WEATHER AND WENT IMC. A MAIN ROTOR STRUCK A TREE AS THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING. A SHORT TIME LATER THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND AT SLOW SPEED. THE SKID STRUCK A ROCK AND ROLLED OVER. ONE PASSENGER WAS INJURED IN THE 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 LAX04LA256Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHilo, HIthe pilot's inadequate planning/decision by his VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree. A low ceiling and fog were contributing factors.Jul 8, 2004 · Substantial damage