# NTSB LAX92FA388: Aerospatiale AS-350B, N350SM, Hana, HI, September 16, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1992, 11:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Hana, HI
- Coordinates: 20.770811, -155.99002 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.7708&lon=-155.9900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27452
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA388
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27452/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA388

## Probable cause

THE PILOT INADEQUATELY EVALUATING THE ENROUTE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT MAKING THE INFLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO SEE AND AVOID THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN DUE TO THE THUNDERSTORMS AND OBSCURATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE INTENDED 45 MINUTE SIGHT SEEING HELICOPTER FLIGHT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT AT ABOUT 1032 HOURS.  ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS INCLUDING THUNDERSTORMS, RAIN SHOWERS, AND POOR VISIBILITY WERE REPORTED IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE THROUGHOUT THE MORNING.  THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT PILOT HAD A RADIO CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER SIGHT SEEING TOUR PILOT BETWEEN 1055 HOURS AND ABOUT 1100 HOURS.  THIS PILOT CONTACTED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT PILOT TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHICH ROUTE SHE SHOULD TAKE TO AVOID THE ADVERSE WEATHER. SHE REPORTED THE ACCIDENT PILOT'S LAST CONVERSATION WITH HER AS 'DON'T COME DOWN THIS WAY, THE WEATHER IS GETTING REAL BAD.'  A WITNESS LOCATED ON THE GROUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT REPORTED RAIN SHOWERS AND MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION AT ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE SAW A BLUE AND WHITE HELICOPTER FLYING IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A HELICOPTER WOULD BE FLYING SO CLOSE TO THE MOUNTAINS IN CONSIDERATION OF THE ADVERSE WEATHER.  EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED A 30 DEGREE SLOPE IN A LEVEL 15 DEGREE RIGHT BANK.  WRECKAGE AND DEBRIS WERE SCATTERED OVER A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 175 FEET FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT LOCATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N350SM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N350SM-1997-10-10), registration cancelled 1997-10-10, S/N 1488 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-350B
- Registry model: [S N I A S AS-350B ECUREUIL](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as-350b-ecureuil) (registry code 8680801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1488
- Airframe hours: 7428
- Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1B 640 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Hawaii Hellicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Hawaii Hellicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 18, 1992, 22 hours before
- Departed: OGG, KAHULUI, HI
- Destination: OGG
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,021 total, 1,620 in this make and model, 6,721 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: 50 ft overcast
- 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 19920916036979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920916036979A), Sep 16, 1992: Snias AS350B, Hana, HI, Destroyed, 7 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured mountain during sightseeing tour flight. Failed to maintain VFR per ops specs.

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.