Schweizer 300C N60718

Summary

On 10 April 1994 at about 08:30 local time, a Schweizer 300C registered N60718, operated by Fong Seong Fishing Group, was involved in an accident near Pacific Ocean. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 April 1994 at 08:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pacific Ocean

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Schweizer 300C

Registration

N60718

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Fong Seong Fishing Group

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fishing Vessel → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX94LA201

Nobody was injured.

THE LOW ALTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE FLARE POINT DURING THE AUTOROTATION. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE SUNGLARE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was 35 minutes into the fish-spotting flight when he 'heard something wrong with the engine.' He then turned his helicopter in the direction of his ship and began a precautionary approach to the water. The pilot stated that engine performance continued to deteriorate during the descent. At an altitude between 350 and 400 feet at an airspeed of 50-to- 60 knots, the engine failed completely. The pilot then initiated an autorotation and turned left into the wind. Approximately 30 seconds after the first indication of an engine problem, the pilot autorotated into the water and landed hard. The pilot stated that he landed hard because of the 'high density altitude conditions, no wind conditions, low altitude where the engine actually failed and quit.' The pilot also stated that the sun's reflection on the water 'created some illusions which made it difficult to visually establish the distance from the water, the speed, and the rate of descent.' The nature of the engine problem was not reported by the operator.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.