# NTSB FTW94MA236: Aerospatiale AS350B, N350MH, Kalaupapa, HI, July 15, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: July 14, 1994, 17:45 local (Jul 15, 1994, 03:45 UTC)
- Place: Kalaupapa, HI
- Coordinates: 21.079271, -157.010894 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.0793&lon=-157.0109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19181
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94MA236
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19181/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94MA236

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MONITOR POWER REQUIRED VERSUS POWER AVAILABLE TO MAINTAIN ROTOR REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE (RPM), RESULTING IN ROTOR RPM DECAY AND A FORCED LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S CHANGE OF THE TOUR ROUTE WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE COMPANY, WHICH DELAYED RESCUE, AND THE LOCATION OF THE ARM AND FIRE SWITCHES FOR THE FLOTATION EQUIPMENT, WHICH REQUIRED THE PILOT TO REMOVE HIS HAND FROM THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL TO ACTIVATE THAT EQUIPMENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
  - flight to new destination - performed, pilot in command
  - flight advisories - not issued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,float assembly - other
  - acft/equip,inadequate control location (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A 14 CFR PART 135 AIR TOUR FLIGHT, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED TO TOUR AROUND THE ISLAND OF MAUI. THE PILOT MADE THE DECISION TO TOUR THE ISLAND OF MOLOKAI WHEN WEATHER ALONG HIS SCHEDULED ROUTE DETERIORATED. HE DID NOT INFORM THE COMPANY OF THE ROUTING CHANGE. WHILE IN A HOVER APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET FROM A SHORE LINE, ROTOR RPM DETERIORATED AND THE INFLATABLE FLOAT-EQUIPPED HELICOPTER MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE WATER. THE FLOATS WERE DEPLOYED AS THE HELICOPTER ENTERED THE WATER; HOWEVER, THE LANDING WAS HARD AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (TO DEPLOY THE FLOATS, THE PILOT WAS REQUIRED TO REMOVE HIS HAND FROM THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL.)  THE PILOT AND FIVE OF THE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. THE REMAINING PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. AFTER LANDING, THE SEVEN OCCUPANTS DONNED LIFE VESTS AND SWAM TO THE SHORE WHERE THEY SPENT THE NIGHT BEFORE BEING LOCATED BY AIRBORNE SEARCH PERSONNEL. THE HELICOPTER DRIFTED ASHORE AND WAS EXAMINED. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Factual narrative

See Group Chairman's Factual Report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N350MH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N350MH-2011-05-26), registration cancelled 2011-05-26, S/N 2199 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350B
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350b) (registry code 8680800) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2199
- Airframe hours: 5337
- Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1B 685 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Hawaii Helicopers
- Registered owner: Hawaii Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 4, 1994, 58 hours before
- Departed: OGG, KAHULUI, HI
- Destination: OGG, HI
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,497 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 227 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OGG, 30 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 19940714018959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940714018959A), Jul 14, 1994: Snias AS350B, Kalaupapa Molok, HI, Substantial damage. Lost power hovering over water near shore. Floats popped late. Hard landing used wests swan to shore. Undetermined.

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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