# NTSB LAX03LA297: Eurocopter France AS 350 BA, N5206J, Hilo, HI, September 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 2003, 12:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Hilo, HI - Location: 19.7225° N, 155.0868° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hilo, HI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB coordinates: 19, -155, outside the stated state - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.7225&lon=-155.0868&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57982 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA297 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57982/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA297 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were fog, rough/uneven terrain, and spatial disorientation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - evasive maneuver - attempted, pilot in command - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The helicopter collided with the ground while attempting to turn away from deteriorating weather conditions. During a flight through mountainous terrain, mist and low-level clouds were encountered. The pilot turned the helicopter away and initiated a climb; however, he was unable to maintain a climb. The helicopter settled into the terrain. No mechanical malfunctions were reported. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 2003, about 1200 Hawaiian standard time, an Eurocopter AS 350 BA helicopter, N5206J, collided with the ground during an uncontrolled descent while attempting to turn away from deteriorating weather conditions near Hilo, Hawaii. The helicopter, registered to and owned by Sunshine Helicopters, was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 as an air tour flight. The airline transport pilot and six passengers were uninjured; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Hapuna Heliport, Kamuela, Hawaii, at 1133, on a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. A combination of visual meteorological conditions and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed during the flight. In a written statement, the operator reported that during the flight, the pilot was descending from 9,000 feet mean sea level (msl) through mountainous terrain when he encountered mist and low-level clouds being blown upslope from the east. A turn to the west was made, followed by a slight climb; however, he was unable to maintain a climb. The helicopter settled into terrain. No mechanical malfunctions were reported. Two passengers in the helicopter corresponded with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge via email. The passengers stated that they were flying low over the terrain, viewing the lava flows in low visibility and foggy weather conditions. They were not sure why, but the pilot executed a turn. The ground was "getting closer and the helicopter started beeping." The pilot then said, "Oh my gosh," and the helicopter impacted the ground where it bounced across the rocky terrain for approximately 50 to 60 feet. At that point, the pilot was calling out ,"Mayday." The helicopter eventually impacted a pile of rocks, which created a hole in the bottom front window and broke the right skid off the helicopter. The pilot attempted to get the helicopter out of the rocks, but was unsuccessful. He was finally able to wedge it in the rocks upright, he shut the helicopter down, and the passengers got out. The pilot opined that the emergency crews would not be able to rescue them due to the poor weather conditions; as a result, the passengers inquired about an emergency kit. The emergency kit contained bandaids and a roll of gauze. A few hours later, a rescue helicopter was able to land and rescued the passengers and pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5206J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5206J-2008-03-26), registration cancelled 2008-03-26, S/N 3100, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter France AS 350 BA - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 BA](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-ba) (registry code 8680955) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3100 - Airframe hours: 5732.2 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 1 B 629 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Sunshine Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 6, 2003, 8.5 hours before - Departed: Hapuna Heliport, HI - Destination: Hapuna Heliport, HI - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 28, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 6,676 total, 1,023 in this make and model, 6,490 as pilot in command, 186 in the last 90 days, 99 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Temperature: 149 °F ## 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 20030909024719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030909024719A), Sep 9, 2003: Snias AS350BA, Hilo, HI, Substantial damage. (-23) After cresting the northern rift zone of mauna loa volcano on the island of Hawaii, the pilot encountered low cloud condition on the side of the eastern… 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.