# NTSB WPR23LA061: Eurocopter EC 130 B4, N130WS, Waimea, HI, December 8, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 7, 2022, 16:42 local (Dec 8, 2022, 02:42 UTC) - Place: Waimea, HI · Hapuna Heliport - Coordinates: 20.006, -155.796 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.0060&lon=-155.7960&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 6 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106435 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106435/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106435 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA061 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of helicopter control on approach to land due to entering a vortex ring state condition, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter EC 130 B4, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8680989), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter EC 130 B4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=8680989), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Eurocopter EC 130 B4, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8680989), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Approach: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter EC 130 B4, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md?model=8680989), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the helicopter reported that, he turned final approach at about 100 ft above ground level and the helicopter started settling with power [entered vortex ring state]. The pilot attempted to stop the descent by applying collective and forward cyclic, but the helicopter subsequently landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N130WS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N130WS), registered now, S/N 3735, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER EC 130 B4 - Registry model: [Eurocopter EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4) (registry code 8680989) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (registry code 60056, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3735 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 20394.7 - Engines: Safrea/Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 847 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 135 - Operator: Sunshine Helicopters, Inc, doing business as Air Taxi - Registered owner: Sunshine Helicopters, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 22, 2022, 74.5 hours before - Departed: Kamuela, HI - Destination: HAP, Kamuela, HI - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: N/A, Hapuna Heliport (Private) - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 38,596 total, 3,276 in this make and model, 38,546 as pilot in command, 124 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 14 knots, gusting 34 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: National WX Service HI, 2 nm away ## 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 20221207013479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221207013479A), Dec 7, 2022: Eurocopter EC 130 B4, Waimea, HI, Substantial damage. On Wednesday, December 7, 2022, the pilot was conducting an air tour in an EC130 helicopter on the island of Hawaii with 6 passengers on board. While… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106435. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14834723&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA061%20N130WS%20FLAT_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14904956&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photo%20WPR23LA061-Rel.pdf 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.