# NTSB LAX87LA178: Bell 206B, N370AH, Laupahoehoe, HI, April 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1987, 13:12 local (23:12 UTC)
- Place: Laupahoehoe, HI
- Coordinates: 19.970624, -155.239013 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.9706&lon=-155.2390&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25565
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25565/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA178

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Ditching, landing
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - emergency equipment - inadequate

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE BELL 206B AND HIS THREE PASSENGERS ARRIVED OVER A BEACHED BARGE THAT THEY WERE TO LAND ON.  THE PILOT HOVERED OVER THE BARGE IN A LEFT QUARTERING TAILWIND OF ABOUT 10 KNOTS AND OVER A MODERATE SEA WITH WAVES BREAKING AGAINST THE BARGE.  THE TWO REAR SEAT PASSENGERS WERE DEPLANED WITHOUT INCIDENT THROUGH THE RIGHT REAR DOOR AS THE HELICOPTER HOVERED WITH THE RIGHT SKID RESTING ON A STRUCTURE ON THE BARGE. AFTERWARD, ONE OF THE DEPLANED PASSENGERS OBSERVED A WAVE BREAK AGAINST THE BARGE AND WATER SPRAYING UPWARD ONTO THE HELICOPTER. BOTH DEPLANED PASSENGERS OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER ROLL LEFT AND IMPACT THE WATER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT FLOTATION GEAR WAS AVAILABLE TO THE CREW OR PASSENGERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N370AH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N370AH-1994-07-19), registration cancelled 1994-07-19, S/N 1314 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1314
- Airframe hours: 7241
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Hilo Bay Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Alaska Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 7, 1987, 88 hours before
- Departed: ITO, HILO, HI
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 6,160 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 5,980 as pilot in command, 241 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ITO, 19 nm away

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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