# Accident 20221207013479A: Eurocopter EC 130 B4, Waimea, HI, December 7, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 7, 2022, 16:42 local time
- Place: Waimea, HI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: SSHA
- Location: 20.0060° N, 155.7960° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.0060&lon=-155.7960&mi=10
- Aircraft: N130WS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N130WS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (registry code 8680989, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1 (registry code 60056, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER EC 130 B4
- People aboard: 7
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 38,596 total, 3,756 in this make and model, 99 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA061) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221207013479A

## Narrative

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

ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022, THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN AIR TOUR IN AN EC130 HELICOPTER ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII WITH 6 PASSENGERS ON BOARD. WHILE PERFORMING A 180 DEGREE TURN TO LAND, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SETTLING WITH POWER. COLLECTIVE APPLICATION WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ARREST THE RATE OF DESCENT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR, FUSELAGE AND WINDSCREEN.

THE PILOT REPOSITIONED THE DAMAGED AIRCRAFT TO AN ALTERNATE LOCATION FOR SHUTDOWN.

## 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 WPR23LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA061), Dec 8, 2022: Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (N130WS), Waimea, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of helicopter control on approach to land due to entering a vortex ring state condition, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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