# NTSB OAK73FJA15: S.N.I.A.S. SA318C, N65180, Kamuela, HI, March 12, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: March 12, 1973
- Place: Kamuela, HI · KAMUELA, HI
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170293
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK73FJA15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73FJA15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0744  73/3/12    KAMUELA,HAWAII      S.N.I.A.S. SA318C   CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 41, 7500
        TIME - 1900                    N65180              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC FIRE CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 60 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KEMOLE,HAWAII               WAIMEA,HAWAII
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO USE OR INCORRECTLY USED MISC.EQUIPMENT
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          SMOKE                                                    VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- IFR COND DUE SMOKE FROM RANGE FIRE,GRND FOG AND DUSK. PLT TURNED ON LDG LTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N65180](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65180-1973-06-26), registration cancelled 1973-06-26, S/N 2286 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: S.N.I.A.S. SA318C
- Registry model: [Sud SA 318C](https://openairdocs.org/model/sud-sa-318c) (registry code 8680501) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19730312007869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730312007869A), Mar 12, 1973: Aerosp SA316C, Kamuela, HI, Destroyed. IFR cond due smoke from range fire,grnd fog and dusk. Plt turned on ldg lts.

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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