ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 32425
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| Date: | Wednesday 23 February 1994 |
| Time: | 17:13 LT |
| Type: |  Aérospatiale AS 350B Ecureuil |
| Owner/operator: | Papillon Hawaiian Helicopters |
| Registration: | N766MP |
| MSN: | 1301 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1980 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 9687 hours |
| Engine model: | TURBOMECA Arriel 1B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, Hawaii, HI -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Waikiloa, HI |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
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.
Probable Cause: 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.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX94LA134
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?omni=Home-N-Number&nNumberTxt=766MP
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 24 July 1991 | N766MP | Papillon Airways, Inc. | 0 | Kahului, HI | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 07-Feb-2012 14:18 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 02-Jul-2014 19:42 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 10-Jun-2023 05:06 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Location, Source, Narrative]] |
| 10-Apr-2024 08:42 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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