# NTSB ANC20MA010: Airbus AS350B2, N985SA, Kekaha, HI, December 27, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report
- Date: December 26, 2019, 16:57 local (Dec 27, 2019, 02:57 UTC)
- Place: Kekaha, HI
- Coordinates: 22.161666, -159.62638 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=22.1617&lon=-159.6264&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 10, 2022
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting, Board meeting May 10, 2022
- Investigation class: Class 1
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100736
- NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/ANC20MA010.aspx
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100736/pdf
- Board report AIR2205 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AIR2205.pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100736
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20MA010

## Probable cause

The 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 to identify hazards and mitigate the risks associated with factors that influence pilots to continue VFR flight into IMC. Also contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration’s delayed implementation of a Hawaii aviation weather camera program, its lack of leadership in the development of a cue-based weather training program for Hawaii air tour pilots, and its ineffective monitoring and oversight of Hawaii air tour operators’ weather-related operating practices.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Ceiling/visibility/precip: below VFR minima](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035075/cases.md)
- [Safety programs: adequacy of safety program](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04035015): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · Operator (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04035015/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04035015/cases.md)
- [Resources: availability of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04022020): Organizational issues › Management · FAA/Regulator (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04022020/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04022020/cases.md)
- [Oversight: oversight of reg compliance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032040): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · FAA/Regulator (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032040/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032040/cases.md)
- [Training: emergency proc training](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04031030): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · FAA/Regulator (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04031030/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04031030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On December 26, 2019, about 1657 Hawaii standard time, an Airbus AS350 B2 helicopter, N985SA, was destroyed when it collided into terrain in a remote, wooded area about 11 miles north of Kekaha, Hawaii, on the island of Kauai. The pilot and the six passengers were fatally injured. Safari Aviation Inc. (Safari), doing business as Safari Helicopters, operated the flight as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 on-demand air tour under visual flight rules (VFR).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N985SA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N985SA-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 3111, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS AS350B2
- Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (registry code 8680950) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3111
- Year built: 1998
- Airframe hours: 21854.1
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Safari Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: Saf Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Lihue, HI
- Destination: Lihue, HI
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: fatal; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 16, 2019; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 15,718 total, 5,814.2 in this make and model, 15,714 as pilot in command, 126.4 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20191226014219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191226014219A), Dec 26, 2019: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Kokee, HI, Destroyed, 7 fatal. 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…

## Other investigations on N985SA (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 LAX01LA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA083), Feb 1, 2001: Eurocopter AS-350-B2 (N985SA), Lihue, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The manufacturer's inadequate collective lock design, which resulted in the collective unlocking during a preflight check and subsequent unintentional liftoff and loss of helicopter control. The…

## Docket (46 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100736. 7.3 GB in all.

- Operations and human performance factual report (item 1, PDF, 62 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13005080&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC20MA010%20Operations%20-%20Human%20Performance%20Factual%20Report%20with%20Alt%20Text-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance attachment 1 - operations group interviews (item 2, PDF, 950 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12936129&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC20MA010%20Interviews%20Master_Redacted-Rel-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 2 - previous safari flight's passenger statement (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 315 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12813206&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%202%20-Kevin%20Stack%20Safari%20Flight_Redacted-Rel-Rel-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 3 - helicopter flying handbook, chapter 11 (item 4, PDF, 28 pages, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12094372&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Helciopter%20Flying%20Handbook-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 4 - flight safety foundation publication - march-april 1996 (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 7.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12094744&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Safety%20Foundation%20hs_mar_apr96-Rel-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 5 - aircraft daily log, N985SA (item 6, PDF, 31 pages, 35.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12812116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachement%205%20Aircraft%20Daily%20Log-%20Previous%2030%20Days_Redacted-Rel-Rel%20(1)-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 6 - accident flight weight and balance form (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12094917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Dec%2026th%20Weight%20and%20Balance_Redacted-Rel-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 7 - Hawaii air tour common procedures manual (item 8, PDF, 170 pages, 11.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12094812&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=hawaii_air_tour_common_proc-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 8 - aircraft flight manual section 5 regulatory performance data (item 9, PDF, 15 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12095183&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Manual%20Performance-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 9 - pilot training and competency check records (item 10, PDF, 20 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814340&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%209%20-%20Pilot%20Records%20Master%20dms_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 10 - safari aviation operations specifications and operations manual excerpt (item 11, PDF, 22 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12094382&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operations%20Manual%20MASTER_Redacted-Rel-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 11 - safari aviation company policy for pilots excerpt (item 12, PDF, 6 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12813443&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2011%20-%20Policy%20Memo%20Master_Redacted-Rel-Rel_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 12 - safari aviation company adverse weather procedures and risk assessment tool (item 13, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12802714&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachemnet%2012%20Risk%20Master-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 13 - pilot scheduling calendar (item 14, PDF, 2 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12999104&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachement%2013%20Pilot%20Schedule%20CalenderMaster-Rel%20(1)-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 14 - pilot initialed weather printout (item 15, PDF, 4 pages, 22.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12998448&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2014%20-%20Pilot%20Initialed%20Weather%20Printout_Redacted-Rel-Rel.pdf
- Operation factors/human performance - attachment 15 - safari aviation advertisement - published in the kauai drive guide vacation planner - dated December 2019 - may 2020 (item 16, PDF, 2 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12981547&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2015%20%E2%80%93%20Safari%20Aviation%20Advertisement%20%E2%80%93%20Published%20in%20the%20Kauai%20Drive%20Guide%20Vacation%20Planner%20%E2%80%93%20dated%20December%202019%20%E2%80%93%20May%202020_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 16 - safari aviation departure/arrival time record (item 17, PDF, 5 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13000716&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2016_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Operational factors/human performance - attachment 17 - annual air tour safety meeting attendance records and agenda (item 18, PDF, 6 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12982607&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%2017%20-%20Annual%20Air%20Tour%20Safety%20Meeting%20Attendance%20Records%20and%20Agenda_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Air traffic control - specialist's factual report (item 19, PDF, 5 pages, 795 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13011153&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC20MA010%20-%20ATC%20Specialists%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Air traffic control - attachment 1 - radar graphics (item 20, PDF, 3 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13008629&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC20MA010%20-%20ATC%20Specialists%20Factual%20Report%20-%20Attachment%201-Rel.pdf
- Air traffic control - attachment 2 - radar data (item 21, XLSX, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13008899&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=ANC20MA010%20-%20Radar%20Data-Rel.xlsx
- Weather study (item 22, PDF, 17 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9740802&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WX_ANC20MA010_Study-Rel.pdf
- Attachment 1 to the weather study (item 23, PDF, 29 pages, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9726239&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WX_ANC20MA010_Attachment_1_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Attachment 2 to the weather study (item 24, PDF, 39 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9721944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WX_ANC20MA010_Attachment_2-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness factual report (item 25, PDF, 21 pages, 12 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12973215&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC20MA010%20-%20Airworthiness%20GF%20Report%20v5.0%20(FINAL)-Rel.pdf
- Airworthiness factual report - attachment 1 - record of conversation with director of maintenance (item 26, PDF, 2 pages, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9926484&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RoC-Director%20of%20Maintenance_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Annunciator panel exam (item 27, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 680 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13188199&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20Report-RE30%20Annunciator%20Panel%20(ANC20MA010)-Rel.pdf
- Electronic devices - specialist's factual report (item 28, PDF, 5 pages, 757 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11979068&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC20MA010%20Electronic%20Devices%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Medical factual report (item 29, PDF, 3 pages, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12988122&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC20MA010_MedicalFactualReport-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 30, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11979418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 31, PDF, 2 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12982484&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Forms_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Toxicological report (item 32, PDF, 1 page, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12991759&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology%20Report%20ANC20MA010_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 33, PDF, 8 pages, 12.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13027440&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Video files - specialist's factual report (item 34, PDF, 9 pages, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13013936&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Attachment 1 to video files - specialist's factual report_tourist_20191121_095030_redacted_not-from-accident-aircraft (item 35, MP4, 11.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13013697&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_Tourist_20191121_095030_redacted_Not-From-Accident-Aircraft-Rel.mp4
- Attachment 2 to video files - specialist's factual report_tourist_20191121_095048_redacted_not-from-accident-aircraft (item 36, MP4, 15.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13014156&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Attachment%202%20to%20Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_Tourist_20191121_095048_redacted_Not-From-Accident-Aircraft-Rel.mp4
- Attachment 3 to video files - specialist's factual report_company-1_191226_160711_161733_redacted_not-from-accident-aircraft (item 37, MP4, 708 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13016429&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Attachment%203%20to%20Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_Company-1_191226_160711_161733_redacted_Not-From-Accident-Aircraft-Rel.mp4
- Attachment 4 to video files - specialist's factual report_company-1_191226_161733_162714_redacted_not-from-accident-aircraft (item 38, MP4, 767 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13016576&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Attachment%204%20to%20Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_Company-1_191226_161733_162714_redacted_Not-From-Accident-Aircraft-Rel.mp4
- Attachment 5 to video files - specialist's factual report_company-1_191226_162714_163655_redacted_not-from-accident-aircraft (item 39, MP4, 774 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13014314&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Attachment%205%20to%20Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_Company-1_191226_162714_163655_redacted_Not-From-Accident-Aircraft-Rel.mp4
- Attachment 6 to video files - specialist's factual report_company-1_191226_163655_164354_redacted_not-from-accident-aircraft (item 40, MP4, 564 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13015092&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Attachment%206%20to%20Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_Company-1_191226_163655_164354_redacted_Not-From-Accident-Aircraft-Rel.mp4
- Attachment 7 to video files - specialist's factual report_company-2_201912261639_02_1_redacted_not-from-accident-aircraft (item 41, MP4, 1.2 GB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13015005&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Attachment%207%20to%20Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_Company-2_201912261639_02_1_redacted_Not-From-Accident-Aircraft-Rel.mp4
- Attachment 8 to video files - specialist's factual report_company-2_201912261639_02_2_redacted_not-from-accident-aircraft (item 42, MP4, 1.2 GB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13014565&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Attachment%208%20to%20Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_Company-2_201912261639_02_2_redacted_Not-From-Accident-Aircraft-Rel.mp4
- Attachment 9 to video files - specialist's factual report_company-2_201912261639_02_3_redacted_not-from-accident-aircraft (item 43, MP4, 1.2 GB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13015180&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Attachment%209%20to%20Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_Company-2_201912261639_02_3_redacted_Not-From-Accident-Aircraft-Rel.mp4
- Attachment 10 to video files - specialist's factual report_company-2_201912261639_02_4_redacted_not-from-accident-aircraft (item 44, MP4, 537 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13015429&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Attachment%2010%20to%20Video%20Files%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_Company-2_201912261639_02_4_redacted_Not-From-Accident-Aircraft-Rel.mp4
- Evidence control forms (item 45, PDF, 2 pages, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13218488&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=EC-ANC20MA010%20(combined)v2_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Board meeting presentations (item 46, PDF, 71 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13838383&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01_Kekaha_Presentations-Rel.pdf

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.

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