Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kula, Hawaii 96790
Thursday, September 26, 1985 11:00 HST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE ON A SIGHTSEEING TOUR. THE PLT STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER LOST ALT AS HE ATTEMPTED TO CROSS POWER LINES. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST DURING THE ENSUING DOWN WIND EMERGENCY LANDING. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE MOUNTAIN AND ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE ACFT FLT MANUAL INDICATES THAT AT THE ACFT'S GROSSWEIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THE MAX HOVER IN GROUND EFFECT (HIGE) ALT CAPABILITY IS 7900 FT. THE ELEVATION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 9700 FT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/1985
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Hawaii Standard Time
Event City KULA
Event State HAWAII
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96790
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 9
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1100 Hawaii Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID OGG
Elevation of weather observation facility 53
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation HST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 5
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2687
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30360
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4268V
NTSB Number LAX85FA402
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model AS350D
Aircraft Series Identifier AS350D
Aircraft Serial Number 1082
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 14 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 95
Airframe Hours 4268
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PAPILLON HELICOPTERS, LTD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1960
Operator City LAHAINA
Operator State HI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 96767
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City LAHAINA
Departure State HI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1045
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --