# NTSB LAX91LA339: Aerospatiale AS350B, N766MP, Kahului, HI, July 25, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 24, 1991, 15:15 local (Jul 25, 1991, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Kahului, HI
- Coordinates: 20.869441, -156.449905 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.8694&lon=-156.4499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27312
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA339
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27312/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA339

## Probable cause

A NON-MECHANICAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING BY THE PILOT.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL LOW LEVEL INDICATION SYSTEM.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fuel system - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - misread, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,fuel quantity float/sensor - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE SIGHTSEEING HELICOPTER LANDED HARD DURING AN AUTOROTATION TO SLOPING TERRAIN AFTER EXPERIENCING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND 2 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANKS. AFTERWARDS, FUEL WAS ADDED AND THE ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY WITH NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS NOTED. THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATION SYSTEM REVEALED A MALFUNCTION OF THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE CRASH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N766MP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N766MP-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N 1301, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350B
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350b) (registry code 8680800) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1301
- Airframe hours: 6959
- Engines: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1B 641 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Papillon Airways, Inc.
- Registered owner: Papillon Airways, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 1991, 86 hours before
- Departed: OGG, KAHULUI, HI
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,205 total, 346 in this make and model, 1,733 as pilot in command, 316 in the last 90 days, 94 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °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 19910724048179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910724048179A), Jul 24, 1991: Snias AS350B, Kahului, HI, Substantial damage. Engine quit on sightseeing flight. Hard landing from autorotation. No usable fuel low fuel indicator light inop.

## Other investigations on N766MP (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX94LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA134), Feb 24, 1994: Aerospatiale AS-350-B (N766MP), Humuula, HI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's poor in-flight decision by failing to attain the best rate of climb speed and exceeding the helicopter's hover performance capability. The clouds and downdraft were factors in this…

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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