2019 Kauai helicopter crash
 N985SA at Lihue (2008) | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 26, 2019 |
| Summary | Collision with terrain; Under investigation |
| Site | Kōkeʻe State Park, Kauai, Hawaii US 22°09′42″N 159°37′35″W / 22.161667°N 159.626389°WCoordinates: 22°09′42″N 159°37′35″W / 22.161667°N 159.626389°W ⧼validator-fatal-error⧽ |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil |
| Operator | Safari Helicopters, Inc. |
| Registration | N985SA |
| Flight origin | Lihue Airport (LIH) |
| Destination | Lihue Airport (LIH) |
| Occupants | 7 |
| Passengers | 6 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 7 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On December 26, 2019, an Airbus AS350 B2 helicopter operated by Safari Helicopters, Inc. collided with a ridge and came to rest at an elevation of 2,900 feet (880 m) in Kōkeʻe State Park, approximately 24 mi (39 km) northwest of Lihue, Hawaii. After the collision, the aircraft fell approximately 100 feet (30 m) and caught fire. The seven onboard (one pilot and six passengers) died at the scene.
Aircraft[edit]
The aircraft involved in the incident was a Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil, which had been previously involved in an accident on February 1, 2001. In the 2001 accident, the helicopter impacted terrain and rolled over; the pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. As part of the pre-flight checklist, the pilot was testing the hydraulic accumulator. The center console has a hydraulic test push-button which is actuated after locking down the collective pitch and setting the fuel flow control to "flight". Proper operation is verified by moving the cyclic two to three times along each axis separately to 10% of total travel.[1]
After the pilot verified hydraulic accumulator operation, the aircraft became airborne in a nose-low attitude; the pilot had his left hand on the cyclic and his right hand was operating the hydraulic test pushbutton. He rearranged his grip to hold the collective in his left hand and the cyclic in his right; after pulling back on the cyclic, intending to complete the takeoff and gain airspeed, the helicopter instead entered an oscillation, pulling back and to the right with nose high, then low again. It struck the ground tail-first on the right side, coming to rest on its right side after the main rotor disintegrated. The subsequent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation determined the collective lock was not effective and caused the helicopter to unexpectedly take off, exacerbated by the hands-off position forced by the hydraulic test sequence.[1]
In December 2019, it was operating under 14 C.F.R. 135 as an on-demand sightseeing flight.[2] Safari Helicopters was founded in 1987,[3] and the pilot of the flight, Paul Matero, was its chief pilot and had 12 years of experience with Safari.[4]
Accident[edit]
The flight originated from Lihue Airport (FAA LID: LIH) at approximately 1631 HST on December 26, 2019; it was scheduled to last 50 minutes and was the pilot's eighth and final flight of the day.[5] At the time of departure, the flight was operating under visual flight rules (VFR).[6] The pilot reported his departure at approximately 1632; using a common air traffic advisory frequency, the pilot reported the aircraft's position at "Tree Tunnel" shortly after that, then reported the position as "Upper Mic" (a compulsory reporting position at the exit of Waimea Canyon) at 1645.[5] Upper Mic was the last reported position of the helicopter, which was not equipped with flight tracking equipment.[6]
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After the helicopter failed to return to Lihue, it was reported missing at 1731 and a search for the helicopter began.[5] The wreck was located at 0932 on December 27, 2019 within Kōkeʻe State Park. Based on the position and damage, the aircraft had collided with a north-facing ridge at an elevation of 3,003 feet (915 m) above mean sea level (msl), then slid and came to rest at an approximate elevation of 2,900 feet (880 m) above msl. A hiker that was approximately 1.5 to 1.75 miles (2.41 to 2.82 km) away along the Nualolo Trail reported hearing a hovering helicopter, then a high-pitched whine; he described visibility as poor, with rain and fog predominant.[5]
Investigation[edit]
The NTSB announced they had opened an investigation following the incident.[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 NTSB Identification: LAX01LA083 (Report). National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "NTSB Investigative Update on Kauai Helicopter Crash" (Press release). National Transportation Safety Board. December 31, 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ↑ Else, Jessica (December 29, 2019). "Reporter recalls flying with Safari". The Garden Island. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ↑ "Tour company releases statement on Kauai helicopter crash". Hawaii News Now. December 28, 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Eurocopter AS350 B2 Ecureuil, N985SA: Fatal accident occurred December 26, 2019 in Lihue, Hawaii". Kathryn's Report. December 27, 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "NTSB preliminary report finds Kauai tour helicopter crashed in heavy rain, fog". The Star-Advertiser. January 15, 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
External links[edit]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to N985SA (aircraft). |
- National Transportation Safety Board, Crash of Airbus AS350B2 Sightseeing Helicopter, Accident No. ANC20MA010
- Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network
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