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| Date: | Tuesday 9 September 2003 |
| Time: | 11:00 LT |
| Type: |  Eurocopter France AS 350 BA |
| Owner/operator: | Sunshine Helicopters Inc |
| Registration: | N5206J |
| MSN: | 3100 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1998 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5732 hours |
| Engine model: | Turbomeca Arriel 1 B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Hilo, Hawaii, HI -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Hapuna Heliport, HI |
| Hapuna Heliport, HI | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter collided with the ground while attempting to turn away from deteriorating weather conditions. During a flight through mountainous terrain, mist and low-level clouds were encountered. The pilot turned the helicopter away and initiated a climb; however, he was unable to maintain a climb. The helicopter settled into the terrain. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.
Probable Cause: the pilot's inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were fog, rough/uneven terrain, and spatial disorientation.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX03LA297
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Oct-2022 06:22 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 09-Jun-2023 15:17 | Ron Averes | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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