# NTSB FTW94MA235: Aerospatiale AS350D, N151BH, Hanalei, HI, July 15, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 1994, 15:36 local (Jul 15, 1994, 01:36 UTC) - Place: Hanalei, HI - Coordinates: 22.200258, -159.499526 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=22.2003&lon=-159.4995&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 19180 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94MA235 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19180/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=19180 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94MA235 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER, AND THE LACK OF AIRCRAFT FLOTATION EQUIPMENT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FLIGHT OVER WATER ADJACENT TO TERRAIN THAT AFFORDED NO SUITABLE FORCED LANDING SITE, AND THE LACK OF A PASSENGER BRIEFING BY THE OPERATOR ON THE LOCATION AND OPERATION OF LIFE PRESERVERS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - fuel system,pump - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Ditching, landing - crew/group briefing - inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor) - planning/decision - improper (contributing factor) - misc rotorcraft,emergency floatation gear - not installed (cause) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A 14 CFR PART 135 AIR TOUR OPERATION WITH A PILOT & 6 PASSENGERS ABOARD. IT WAS FLYING PARALLEL TO THE SHORELINE WHEN A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION TO THE WATER ABOUT 150' FROM A CLIFF SHORELINE. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH FLOATS. ALL OCCUPANTS EXITED THE HELICOPTER UNINJURED AS IT WAS SINKING. LIFE VESTS WERE ABOARD THE HELICOPTER, BUT WERE NOT WORN BY THE OCCUPANTS. THREE OF THE PASSENGERS MANAGED TO CLIMB ONTO ROCKS & WERE EVENTUALLY RESCUED BY HELICOPTER. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN BRIEFED THAT LIFE PRESERVERS WERE ABOARD THE HELICOPTER. THE OTHER FOUR OCCUPANTS WERE UNABLE TO CLIMB ONTO ROCKS ALONG THE SHORE. ONE OF THESE (A PASSENGER) WAS RESCUED BY PERSONNEL OF A BOAT. THE PILOT & THE OTHER TWO PASSENGERS DROWNED. THE HELICOPTER WAS RECOVERED FROM THE OCEAN. AN EXAM & TESTS OF COMPONENTS REVEALED THE INTERNAL DRIVE SPLINES OF THE ENGINE-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP (MFP-261) HAD WORN TO THE POINT OF SLIPPAGE. THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Factual narrative See Group Chairman's Factual Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: N151BH (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350D - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1298 - Airframe hours: 7221 - Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101-A3 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Papillon Hawaiian Helicopters, doing business as Papillon Hawaiian Helicopters - Registered owner: Papillon Helicopters, Ltd. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 13, 1994, 5 hours before - Departed: LIH, LIHUE, HI - Destination: LIH, HI - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,800 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 319 in the last 90 days, 119 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 14 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LIH, 21 nm away ## 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 19940714046529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940714046529A), Jul 14, 1994: Snias AS350D, Hanalei, HI, Substantial damage, 3 fatal. Lost power near shore. Autorotated to water. Not float equipped. Failed use life vests. Pilot two passengers drowned ## Docket (41 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 1995, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=19180. 3.7 MB in all. - Refer to NTSB public hearing # PUB95HA001 for additional information (item 1, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028022&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Refer%20to%20NTSB%20public%20hearing%20%23%20PUB95HA001%20for%20additional%20information-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Accident area taken with survivor's camera (item 2, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028024&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20%20Accident%20area%20taken%20with%20survivor%27s%20camera-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Accident area taken with survivor's camera (item 3, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028025&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20%20Accident%20area%20taken%20with%20survivor%27s%20camera-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Accident area taken with survivor's camera (item 4, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028026&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20%20Accident%20area%20taken%20with%20survivor%27s%20camera-Master.PDF - Photo 4: Napali Coast Accident site (item 5, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20%20Napali%20Coast%20Accident%20site-Master.PDF - Photo 5: Napali Coast Accident Site (item 6, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%3A%20%20Napali%20Coast%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo 6: Submerged Aircraft (item 7, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%3A%20%20Submerged%20Aircraft-Master.PDF - Photo 7: Submerged Aircraft (item 8, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%3A%20%20Submerged%20Aircraft-Master.PDF - Photo 8: Kahului Airport Helo Ramp (item 9, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208%3A%20%20Kahului%20Airport%20Helo%20Ramp-Master.PDF - Photo 9: Kahului Airport Heo Ramp (item 10, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209%3A%20%20Kahului%20Airport%20Heo%20Ramp-Master.PDF - Photo 10: Kahului Airport Helo Ramp (item 11, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010%3A%20%20Kahului%20Airport%20Helo%20Ramp-Master.PDF - Photo 11: Kahului Airport Helo Ramp (item 12, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028034&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2011%3A%20%20Kahului%20Airport%20Helo%20Ramp-Master.PDF - Factual Report of Group Chairman - Survival Factors (item 13, .PDF, 608 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028035&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman%20-%20Survival%20Factors-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records - Part 1 of Factual Report of Group Chairman (Includes 27 Photo's) (item 14, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20%20%20-%20%20%20Part%201%20of%20Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman%20(Includes%2027%20Photo%27s)-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Fuel Drive Spine. (item 15, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028037&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Fuel%20Drive%20Spine.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Drive Spline. (item 16, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Drive%20Spline.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Blue MRB top surface. (item 17, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028039&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Blue%20MRB%20top%20surface.-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Red/yellow main rotor. (item 18, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Red%2Fyellow%20main%20rotor.-Master.PDF - Photo 5. M.R.B. botom surface. (item 19, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20M.R.B.%20botom%20surface.-Master.PDF - Photo 6. N151BH (item 20, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028042&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20N151BH-Master.PDF - Photo 7. Star arm fracture. (item 21, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207.%20Star%20arm%20fracture.-Master.PDF - Photo 8. Tail drive shaft. (item 22, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028044&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208.%20Tail%20drive%20shaft.-Master.PDF - Photo 9. Tail drive shaft. (item 23, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028045&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209.%20Tail%20drive%20shaft.-Master.PDF - Photo 10. Flex coupling. (item 24, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010.%20Flex%20coupling.-Master.PDF - Photo 11. N151BH (item 25, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2011.%20N151BH-Master.PDF - Photo 12. B nut leak check. (item 26, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2012.%20B%20nut%20leak%20check.-Master.PDF - Photo 13. Fuel from fuel pump discharge. (item 27, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2013.%20Fuel%20from%20fuel%20pump%20discharge.-Master.PDF - Photo 14. Spray test fuel nozzles. (item 28, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028050&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2014.%20Spray%20test%20fuel%20nozzles.-Master.PDF - Photo 15. Engine Controls. (item 29, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028051&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2015.%20Engine%20Controls.-Master.PDF - Photo 16. Door Emerg. Handle. (item 30, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028052&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2016.%20Door%20Emerg.%20Handle.-Master.PDF - Photo 17. RH door release. (item 31, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2017.%20RH%20door%20release.-Master.PDF - Photo 18. Other acft. door release. (item 32, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2018.%20Other%20acft.%20door%20release.-Master.PDF - Photo 19. In-service door. (item 33, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2019.%20In-service%20door.-Master.PDF - Photo 20. N151BH (item 34, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028056&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2020.%20N151BH-Master.PDF - Photo 21. N151BH (item 35, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2021.%20N151BH-Master.PDF - Photo 22. N151BH (item 36, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028058&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2022.%20N151BH-Master.PDF - Photo 23. N151BH (item 37, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028059&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2023.%20N151BH-Master.PDF - Photo 24. N151BH (item 38, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028060&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2024.%20N151BH-Master.PDF - Photo 25. Belly panel. (item 39, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2025.%20Belly%20panel.-Master.PDF - Photo 26. Fuel pump pad. (item 40, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2026.%20Fuel%20pump%20pad.-Master.PDF - Photo 27. Fuel pump drive gear. (item 41, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40028063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2027.%20Fuel%20pump%20drive%20gear.-Master.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.