# Accident 20050923026359A: Snias AS350BA, Haena, HI, September 23, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 23, 2005, 00:15 local time
- Place: Haena, HI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: S9HA
- Location: 22.2214° N, 159.5803° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=22.2214&lon=-159.5803&mi=10
- Aircraft: N355NT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N355NT-2018-01-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale AS350BA (registry code 8680817, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350ba) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350BA
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Pilot flight hours: 2,492 total, 197 in this make and model, 177 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA05MA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05MA199) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050923026359A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC. PASSENGERS AND PILOT REPORTED FLYING INTO A WALL OF WATER. PASSENGERS REPORTED THAT AT ONE POINT THEY COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. RADAR DATA SHOWS AND PILOT REPORTED THAT HE BEGAN TO SLOW AIRCRAFT. RADAR SHOWS 10 KNOTS AT 2,000 FEET. PILOT AND PASSENGERS REPORT HE MADE APPROXIMATELY A 160 DEGREE TURN. PILOT AND PASSENGERS REPORTED THAT AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY DROPPED. PILOT REPORTED PULLING IN A LOT OF COLLECTIVE. GIVEN THE STORM CELL AND PREVAILING TRADE WINDS, AIRCRAFT APPEARS TO HAVE ENTERED SETTLING WITH POWER. PILOT AND PASSENGERS REPORTED AIRCRAFT SLOWED AS IT APPROACHED THE WATER. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE WATER, LOST ITS TAIL ROTOR, BOUNCED BACK UP AND BEGAN SPINNING LEFT. PILOT PUT OUT 15 MAYDAY CALLS AND BEGAN TO BRIEF PASSENGERS TO EVACUATE. AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK TO THE WATER AND ONE SEVERE IMPACT AS MAIN ROTOR BLADE HIT THE WATER WAS REPORTED BY PASSENGER. AIRCRAFT SANK INSTANTLY. PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS SUCCESSFULLY EVACUATED AIRCRAFT. LIFE PRESERVERS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. ONE PASSENGER EVENTUALLY MADE IT TO THE SURFACE, BUT HAD INHALED WATER AND DID NOT SURVIVE. SURVIVORS SWAM TO SHORE. COMPANY AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO SEARCH FOR ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT AS WELL AS NAVY.

## 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 SEA05MA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05MA199), Sep 24, 2005: Aerospatiale AS350BA (N355NT), Haena, HI, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to continue flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to an encounter with a microburst. Contributing to the accident was inadequate Federal…

## Other reports on N355NT (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20001207021529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001207021529A), Dec 7, 2000: Snias AS350BA (N355NT), Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) While performing a pinnacle approach procedure into an unimproved site, the right front portion of the helicopters skid collided with a large rock. This…

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.

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