# NTSB LAX94LA201: Schweizer 300C, N60718, Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), April 10, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 1994 - Place: Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean) - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28728 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28728/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA201 ## Probable cause THE LOW ALTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE FLARE POINT DURING THE AUTOROTATION. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE SUNGLARE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - altitude - inadequate (cause) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water (contributing factor) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was 35 minutes into the fish-spotting flight when he 'heard something wrong with the engine.' He then turned his helicopter in the direction of his ship and began a precautionary approach to the water. The pilot stated that engine performance continued to deteriorate during the descent. At an altitude between 350 and 400 feet at an airspeed of 50-to- 60 knots, the engine failed completely. The pilot then initiated an autorotation and turned left into the wind. Approximately 30 seconds after the first indication of an engine problem, the pilot autorotated into the water and landed hard. The pilot stated that he landed hard because of the 'high density altitude conditions, no wind conditions, low altitude where the engine actually failed and quit.' The pilot also stated that the sun's reflection on the water 'created some illusions which made it difficult to visually establish the distance from the water, the speed, and the rate of descent.' The nature of the engine problem was not reported by the operator. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 1994, at 0830 local ship time, a Schweizer 300C helicopter, N60718, sustained substantial damage during an autorotative forced water landing in international waters near Chuuk Island in the Federated States of Micronesia. The helicopter was owned by Trans Global Products, Inc., and was operated by the Fong Seong Fishing Group. The pilot and his observer were on an aerial observation flight under 14 CFR Part 91 of Federal Aviation Regulations. Visual meteorological conditions were prevalent at the time and no flight plan had been filed for the operation. Neither the certificated commercial pilot nor his observer were injured. The flight originated from the deck of the ship Fong Seong No. 777 at 0755 on the day of the mishap as a local fish spotting mission. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was 35 minutes into the flight at an altitude of 1,600 msl and 70 knots airspeed when he "heard something wrong with the engine." He then turned his helicopter in the direction of his ship and began an approach to the water. The pilot radioed his mechanic on board the ship to inform him of the emergency. At the same time, the observer radioed the ship's captain giving him the same information. The pilot stated that the engine performance continued to deteriorate during the descent. At an altitude between 350 and 400 feet at an airspeed of 50-to- 60 knots, the engine failed completely and the nose of the helicopter yawed left. At that point in the descent, the pilot initiated an autorotation and turned left into the wind. Approximately 30 seconds after the first indication of an engine problem, the pilot autorotated into the water and touched down hard. The pilot stated that he landed hard because of the "high density altitude conditions, no wind conditions, low altitude where the engine actually failed and quit." The pilot also stated that the sun's reflection on the water "created some illusions which made it difficult to visually establish the distance from the water, the speed, and the rate of descent." The nature of the engine problem was not reported by the operator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60718](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60718-2017-09-12), registration cancelled 2017-09-12, S/N S1618 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 300C - Registry model: [Schweizer 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-269c) (registry code 8059502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1618 - Airframe hours: 531 - Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Fong Seong Fishing Group - Registered owner: Trans Global Products, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 1994, 2 hours before - Departed: NONE, FISHING VESSEL, PO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 526 total, 243 in this make and model, 509 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °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 19940410012689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940410012689A), Apr 10, 1994: Hughes 269C, Chuuk Island, FM, Substantial damage. Lost power on fish spotting flight. Auto rotated to hard landing in ocean. Cause power loss unknown. 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.