- Date
- January 21, 1985, 09:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Honolulu, HI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N121JPHughes 369E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850121000979A
- Case key
- 24639
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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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 in flt over water at about 400 ft AGL & 1/2 mi from shore, the plt saw a large flock of white birds. He reported that he flared to a stop, but was unable to avoid the birds. After the helicopter struck bird(s), an extreme vibration developed. The plt elected to 'get down to the water.' The helicopter touched down on the water, rolled over & sank, but the plt egressed & swam to shore without injury.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N121JP
- Reported as
- Hughes 369E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0085E
- Airframe hours
- 85
- Engine
- Allison C20B-250, 375 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James H. Pflueger
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1984 · 85 hours before
- Destination
- HNL · Honolulu, HI
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 150 total · 80 in this make and model · 120 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HNL, 16 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.