Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Huelo, Hawaii 96732
Monday, February 28, 1994 8:00 HST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE DECELERATION DURING A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND LANDED IN A CONFINED AREA SURROUNDED BY VEGETATION. A TREE STUMP PENETRATED THE LEFT LOWER SECTION OF THE HELICOPTER. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION AND POSTACCIDENT ENGINE RUN-UP REVEALED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 58 PERCENT AND THAT THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT LINE WAS LOOSE AND WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE OPERATOR REPLACED THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT 2 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE OPERATOR MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL'S INADEQUATE 100-HOUR INSPECTION. THE LOOSE FUEL CONTROL LINE FITTING, THE TREE STUMP, AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN WERE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 2/28/1994
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Hawaii Standard Time
Event City HUELO
Event State HAWAII
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96732
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5014
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 28 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1135
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5771L
NTSB Number LAX94IA145
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model AS-350D
Aircraft Series Identifier AS-350D
Aircraft Serial Number 1343
Certified Max Gross Weight 4300
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 23 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 8556
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAPILLON HELICOPTERS LTD.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12515 WILLOWS ROAD N.E.
Aircraft Owner City KIRKLAND
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98034
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PAPILLON HELICOPTERS INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2250 KALAKAUA AVE. SUITE 514
Operator City HONOLULU
Operator State HI
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code 96815
Operator Code ILNA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 0GG
Departure City KAHULUI
Departure State HI
Departure Country
Departure Time 745
Departure Time Zone HST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 7 2004 10:37AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --