# Accident 20190704012299A: Agusta Spa AW139, Grand Cay, BH, July 4, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2019, 02:00 local time
- Place: Grand Cay, BH
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.2381° N, 78.3044° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2381&lon=-78.3044&mi=10
- Aircraft: N32CC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32CC-2021-01-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Agusta AW139 (registry code 0260111, https://openairdocs.org/model/agusta-aw139) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67C (registry code 52174, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6c-67c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AGUSTA SPA AW139
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6C-67C
- People aboard: 7
- Fatal injuries: 7
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19FA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA210) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190704012299A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 4, 2019, ABOUT 0154 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AGUSTA S.P.A. AW139, N32CC, OWNED BY CHALLENGER MANAGEMENT LLC, IMPACTED THE ATLANTIC OCEAN NEAR BIG GRAND CAY, ABACO, BAHAMAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED CO-PILOT, AND FIVE PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. DARK NIGHT VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR A FLIGHT FROM WALKER?S CAY AIRPORT (MYAW), WALKER?S CAY, BAHAMAS, TO FORT  LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (FLL), FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED ABOUT 0153 FROM A CONCRETE PAD LOCATED AT BIG GRAND CAY, ABACO, BAHAMAS.

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TRANSPORT TWO OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE REPORTEDLY ILL FROM BIG GRAND CAY, BAHAMAS TO FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, FOR MEDICAL EVALUATION/TREATMENT.

THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH BAHAMAS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OR FAA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. SEVERAL FAA RADAR TARGETS WERE NOTED.

AT 1521, A FAA ALERT NOTICE (ALNOT) WAS DISSEMINATED FOR THE OVERDUE HELICOPTER. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED BETWEEN 1600 AND 1700 HOURS ON JULY 4, 2019, IN APPROXIMATELY 16 FEET OF WATER.

## 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 ERA19FA210](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA210), Jul 4, 2019: Agusta AW139 (N32CC), Big Grand Cay, Bahamas, substantial damage, 7 fatal. Probable cause: The pilots’ decision to takeoff over water in dark night conditions with no external visual reference, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent collision with the water. Also causal…

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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