# Accident 20040708018869A: Snias AS350B2, Paauilo, HI, July 8, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 8, 2004, 13:10 local time
- Place: Paauilo, HI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HCMA
- Location: 20.0206° N, 155.4253° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.0206&lon=-155.4253&mi=10
- Aircraft: N196BH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N196BH-2013-08-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (registry code 8680950, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B2
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,400 total, 4,828 in this make and model, 255 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA256) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040708018869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX04LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA256), Jul 8, 2004: Eurocopter AS350 B2 (N196BH), Hilo, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.