# NTSB LAX00LA066: Hughes 369HS, N9162F, Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), December 30, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 1999 - Place: Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean) - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48438 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48438/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA066 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to takeoff downwind and the subsequent failure to achieve translational lift before contact with the water. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - weather condition - tailwind - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - translational lift - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot took off from the fishing vessel with a tail wind and the helicopter settled into the water in a tail low attitude. The main rotor blades contacted the tail boom and the tail rotor contacted the water. The helicopter was equipped with permanent floats and remained in an upright position. No discrepancies were found during examination of the engine. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 1999, about 1200 hours local ship time, a Hughes 369HS, N9162F, crashed into the Pacific Ocean after takeoff from a fishing vessel in international waters about 1,300 miles southeast of Guam. The helicopter, operated by Hansen Helicopters, Tamuning, Guam, sustained substantial damage. The pilot, who held a New Zealand commercial pilot certificate, was not injured. The local aerial observation flight, conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, was originating from the fishing vessel at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The ship's helicopter mechanic observed the accident. He reported that the accident flight was the third scheduled flight of the day. He observed the pilot perform a normal engine start-up and takeoff with a 5- to 10-knot tailwind. The ship was stationary at that time. As the helicopter lifted off from the deck, it moved sideways and dove toward the forward right-hand side of the ship. The mechanic stated that the pilot appeared to be trying to gain airspeed. About 5 seconds later, he observed the helicopter flaring as it approached the water. The tail rotor impacted the water and the tail boom bounced upward and was severed by the main rotor blades. The helicopter was equipped with permanent floats and remained in an upright position. The mechanic stated that the engine was still running at that time. The pilot closed the fuel shutoff valve and exited the helicopter. The ship crewmembers recovered the aircraft. The mechanic stated that after the accident, the pilot reported that he had noticed a sudden increase on the TOT gauge and had experienced a loss of power after takeoff. The mechanic performed a visual inspection on the engine assembly after the accident. He found no mechanical discrepancies. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) database, the pilot held no FAA airman or medical certificates. The pilot was a citizen of New Zealand and held pilot and medical certificates for that country. The operator reported that he returned to New Zealand following the accident; he was not located for interview by the Safety Board. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9162F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9162F-2019-03-06), registration cancelled 2019-03-06, S/N 830512S (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hughes 369HS - Registry model: [Hughes 369HS](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-369hs) (registry code 4470728) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C10D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c10d) (registry code 54172, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 830512S - Airframe hours: 17010 - Engines: Allison 250-C10D 315 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Hansen Helicopters - Registered owner: Marlin Bay Helicopters Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 1999, 98 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; commercial, foreign; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 200 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 194 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19991230046909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991230046909A), Dec 30, 1999: Hughes 369HS, No damage. (-23)Helicopter lifted off fishing vessel on a fish spotting flight. Take-off was made down wind resulting in loss of lift. The aircraft contacted the water… 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.