- Date
- July 24, 1994, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Seaside, OR
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7771FHughes 369HS
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940724019209A
- Case key
- 41817
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Inflight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A witness reported hearing the sound of an impact, turned, and saw something slide into the water. The aircraft was not recovered due to strong ocean currents in the vicinity of the impact site.
Factual narrative
History of flight
On July 24, 1994, approximately 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Hughes 369HS helicopter, N7771F, collided with terrain while conducting a sightseeing flight at Ecola State Park, near Seaside, Oregon. The commercial pilot and his passenger were fatally injured in the crash. Visual meteorological conditions were reported in the Seaside vicinity at the time of the crash. There was no ELT reported, and there was no flight plan for the flight.
A hiker heard the impact of the helicopter, and turned to see what he believed to be parts of the helicopter falling from the cliffs along the Pacific Ocean shoreline, then ran to a telephone to notify authorities. Search and rescue personnel found an oil slick off Bird Point, in Tillamook Head Park, at 45 degrees 56.5 N, 123 degrees 59.5 W. The remains of the pilot and passenger were recovered by divers, with the pilot's remains being recovered on July 26.
The aircraft could not be recovered after several attempts. Divers reported very strong currents in the vicinity. Some small pieces of the aircraft were found weeks after the accident.
The mechanic for the operator refused to provide information regarding refueling or maintenance on the aircraft. He did state that the helicopter had departed from the operator's helipad outside Seaside, Oregon.
Medical and pathological information
Autopsies were performed on both the pilot and his passenger by Drs. Edward Wilson and Karen Gunson, respectively, at Portland, Oregon. Cause of death was stated "drowned," and "asphyxiation by drowning," respectively.
Toxicological samples were tested by the FAA. No ethanol was detected in urine. Quinine was detected in urine. Carbon monoxide and cyanide analysis was not performed due to lack of suitable specimens.
Additional information
On December 29, 1994, the aircraft logbooks and records were returned to the owner of record after inspection.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7771F
- Reported as
- Hughes 369HS
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 6203905
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- Unknown
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Helicopter Enterprises, Inc, doing business as Seaside Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Arden Danielson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 13, 1994
- Departed
- OR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,092 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.