20191226014219A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · Kokee, HI · December 26, 2019

Date: December 26, 2019 · 16:57 local
Place: Kokee, HI
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: XSFA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N985SA
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC20MA010
Reported as: Eurocopter AS 350 B2
Reported engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER
People aboard: 7
Fatal injuries: 7
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 15,724 total5,820 in this make and model137 in the last 90 days

N985SARegistration cancelled Mar 5, 2022 · Eurocopter AS 350 B2S/N 3111 · Built 1998 Airframe modelEurocopter AS 350 B2 Engine modelTurbomeca ARRIEL-1SERTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On December 26, about 1657 Hawaii standard time, an Airbus AS350 B2 helicopter, N985SA, was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire when it collided with terrain about 24 miles northwest of lihue, Hawaii.

The commercial pilot and six passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to saf ltd and operated by safari aviation, inc., doing business as safari helicopters, under the provisions of title 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 135 as an on-demand visual flight rules (VFR) air tour flight.

Company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed lihue airport (phli), lihue, Hawaii 1631.

As the FAA filed it

ON DECEMBER 26, ABOUT 1657 HAWAII STANDARD TIME, AN AIRBUS AS350 B2 HELICOPTER, N985SA, WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND A POST-CRASH FIRE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN ABOUT 24 MILES NORTHWEST OF LIHUE, HAWAII.

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND SIX PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO SAF LTD AND OPERATED BY SAFARI AVIATION, INC., DOING BUSINESS AS SAFARI HELICOPTERS, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 135 AS AN ON-DEMAND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) AIR TOUR FLIGHT.

COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WERE IN EFFECT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED LIHUE AIRPORT (PHLI), LIHUE, HAWAII 1631.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC20MA010Accident · 7 fatalClass 1 · MajorFinal reportKekaha, HIThe pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules (VFR) into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in the collision into terrain. Contributing to the accident was Safari Aviation Inc.’s lack of safety management processes…Dec 27, 2019 · Destroyed

Other reports on N985SA · 1

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

Accident 20010201004599AEngine Run-Up · Lihue, HI(-23) During a preflight run-up, the Eurocopter fm check list for the AS-350B2 calls for a hydraulic accumulator check. This is done at flight idle. The pilot engaged the "hydraulic test" and accomplished the accumulator check. Since this was a left side…Feb 1, 2001 · Destroyed