- Date
- October 6, 2004, 15:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean)
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N74AMHughes 369HS
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 28, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20041006035249A
- Case key
- 60341
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection to ensure that all tie downs were removed from the helicopter, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While attempting to takeoff from a fishing vessel on the high seas, the helicopter rolled onto its side. The tail boom was severed by the main rotor blades and the main rotor blades were destroyed. The pilot attempted to take off with the left tie-down still attached to the helicopter landing gear.
Factual narrative
On October 6, 2004, at 1515 local ship time (FSM), a single-engine Hughes 369HS, N74AM, rolled over on its side while attempting to takeoff from the ship Purse Seiner operating in international waters near Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Fling Air, Inc., operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter rated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. There were no injuries to other ship crewmembers. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area aerial observation flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was originating and scheduled to terminate on board the ship Purse Seiner.
According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the helicopter was based on board the ship. The ship was operating on the high seas for fishing operations. The pilot attempted to takeoff while the left tie-down was still attached to the helicopter. The helicopter rolled onto its left side, and the main rotor blades severed the tail boom. The tail boom sank in the water. The main rotor blades were destroyed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N74AM
- Reported as
- Hughes 369HS
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1250790S
- Engine
- Allison 250-C18, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Fling Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- Pacific Ocean, PO
- Destination
- Pacific Ocean, PO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 11,100 total · 5,100 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.