# Incident 20180222003049I: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Waimea Canyon S, HI, February 22, 2018

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 22, 2018, 09:50 local time
- Place: Waimea Canyon S, HI
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: XSFA
- Aircraft: N702SA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N702SA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (registry code 8680950, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1 (registry code 60053, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1D1
- People aboard: 7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 9,641 total, 8,120 in this make and model, 91 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180222003049I

## Narrative

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

SAFARI AVIATION, INC. WAS OPERATING A 14 CFR 135 ON DEMAND SIGHTSEEING LIGHT IN THE LOCATION OF WIAMEA CANYON ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI. AS THE AS350B2 HELICOPTER WAS CLIMBING OUT OF WAIMEA CANYON AT APPROXIMATELY 105 KNOTS, THE PILOT NOTICED A CHANGE IN SOUND IN THE CABIN, AND ABOUT THAT TIME A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE RIGHT REAR AREA OF THE HELICOPTER, INFORMED THE PILOT THAT THE RIGHT REAR HIGH VISIBILITY WINDOW WAS MISSING.

THE PILOT TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CONCLUDE THE TOUR AND BEGAN TO SEARCH FIND A SUITABLE LANDING ZONE. DURING THIS TIME, THE PILOT DID NOT NOTICE ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS IN THE FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HELICOPTER.  THE PILOT DECIDED THE COMPANY-LANDING ZONE AT OLOKEKE WOULD BE A SUITABLE PLACE TO LAND. THE FLIGHT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 MINUTES AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 70 KNOTS AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT.

AFTER LANDING AT OLOKEKE, AND SHUT DOWN, THE PILOT INSPECTED THE HELICOPTER FOR DAMAGE, HE DETERMINED NO DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED. THE PILOT CALLED THE OWNER OF SAFARI HELICOPTERS, INFORMED HIM OF THE SITUATION, THE OWNER ADVISED THE PILOT TO FLY BACK TO LIH AIRPORT, WHERE THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM AND WHERE SAFARI AVIATION MAINTENANCE IS LOCATED.

AFTER REPOSITIONING A COUPLE OF THE PASSENGERS, THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM OLOKEKE WITH PASSENGERS ABOARD FOR THE LIH AIRPORT, THE RETURN FLIGHT WAS NORMAL; FLYING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 KNOTS AND LANDED AT LIH WITHOUT INCIDENT.

## Other reports on N702SA (1)

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

- [Incident 20180219002779I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180219002779I), Feb 19, 2018: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (N702SA), Lihue, HI, Minor damage. Approximately 5 minutes after takeoff from the Lihue, airport, on a 14 CFR 135 on demand flight, and flying parallel to the haupu ridgeline westbound; a bird…

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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