Aerospatiale AS350 BA N141MK

Summary

On 7 July 2002 at about 22:00 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350 BA registered N141MK was involved in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. 4 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

7 July 2002 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Nearest airport

Remote Landing Zone

Coordinates

21.3917, -157.8333

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS350 BA

Registration

N141MK

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Honolulu → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX02LA217

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate tail rotor clearance from the sloping terrain in unfavorable wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter's tail rotor collided with terrain while the pilot was attempting to land downwind on downsloping terrain. The passengers reported that as the helicopter began the approach to landing, it passed over a 6-foot fence and settled hard onto dirt. The pilot told an FAA inspector that he had landed downhill, because while in the air, he ascertained that would be the best angle to execute a landing in the confined operation zone. The downwind conditions resulted in the tail of the helicopter being lower than normal. During touchdown, the helicopter's tail boom collided with the upslope terrain. The gear box was destroyed and the tail boom was bent 30 degrees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.