# Accident 20130302003479A: Hughes 369HS, Latangai Island, March 2, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 2, 2013, 13:20 local time
- Place: Latangai Island
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 0.5111° S, 156.5383° E: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-0.5111&lon=156.5383&mi=10
- Aircraft: N471M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N471M-2020-09-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 369HS (registry code 4470728, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 (registry code 03080, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C20
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, unknown or foreign certificate
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA137) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130302003479A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS ON A FISH SPOTTING FLIGHT IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC WITH A CREW OF ONE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER (SPOTTER). FISH WERE SPOTTED IN THE VICINITY OF ANOTHER BOAT. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW BY THE BOAT AND CAME TO A HOVER OVER THE FISH IN AN ATTEMPT TO DROP A SIGNAL BUOY WHICH MARKS THE POSITION OF THE FISH (AND CLAIMS THAT SCHOOL OF FISH FOR ITS BOAT) APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET AHEAD OF THE BOAT. THE AIRCRAFT HOVERED WITH IT'S TAIL POINTED AT THE BOAT. THE BOAT DID NOT STOP IN TIME AND RAN IN TO THE TAIL OF THE HELICOPTER. THE HELICOPTER, WHICH WAS EQUIPPED WITH FLOATS, CRASHED AND TURNED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE WATER. THE PILOT RELEASED HIS SEAT BELT AND SWAM TO THE SURFACE. THE SPOTTER WAS UNABLE TO ESCAPE AND DIED.

## 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 WPR13LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA137), Mar 2, 2013: Hughes 369HS (N471M), Latangai Island, Papua New Guinea, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of both the pilot and the fish master of the vessel to adequately monitor their environment, which resulted in a collision.

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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