Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Humuula, Hawaii 96743
Wednesday, February 23, 1994 16:13 HST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING HELICOPTER FLIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS COVERING THE MOUNTAIN PASS AND ELECTED TO PROCEED TOWARD AN ALTERNATE DESTINATION. THE CLOUDS FORCED THE PILOT TO CLIMB THE HELICOPTER TO 10,500 FT MSL. THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO DECREASE, EXECUTED A TURN, AND ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE ALTITUDE AND THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER OR ENGINE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PERFORMANCE DATA SHOWED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS CAPABLE OF A RATE OF CLIMB OF 700 FT/MIN IF THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THE PROPER BEST RATE OF CLIMB SPEED STRAIGHT AHEAD. AT 10,500 FT MSL, THE HELICOPTER COULD NOT HOVER IN OR OUT OF GROUND EFFECT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's poor in-flight decision by failing to attain the best rate of climb speed and exceeding the helicopter's hover performance capability. The clouds and downdraft were factors in this accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1613
Event Time Zone Hawaii Standard Time
Event City HUMUULA
Event State HAWAII
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96743
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1552 Hawaii Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ITO
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation HST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 215
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 23 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:41AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N766MP
NTSB Number LAX94LA134
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 Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model AS-350-B
Aircraft Series Identifier AS-350-B
Aircraft Serial Number 1301
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 14 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 9687
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAPILLON AIRWAYS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12515 WILLOWS RD., 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 HAWAIIAN HELICOPTERS
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
Departure City WAIKILOA
Departure State HI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
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 10:35AM
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 --