AIRBUS AS350B2
Kekaha, HI — December 27, 2019
Event Information
| Date | December 27, 2019 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ANC20MA010 |
| Event ID | 20191227X75520 |
| Location | Kekaha, HI |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 22.16167, -159.62638 |
| Highest Injury | FATL |
Aircraft
| Make | AIRBUS |
| Model | AS350B2 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 135 |
| Aircraft Damage | DEST |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | IMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 7 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 7 |
Probable Cause
The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules (VFR) into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), which resulted in the collision into terrain. Contributing to the accident was Safari Aviation Inc.’s lack of safety management processes to identify hazards and mitigate the risks associated with factors that influence pilots to continue VFR flight into IMC. Also contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration’s delayed implementation of a Hawaii aviation weather camera program, its lack of leadership in the development of a cue-based weather training program for Hawaii air tour pilots, and its ineffective monitoring and oversight of Hawaii air tour operators’ weather-related operating practices.
Full Narrative
On December 26, 2019, about 1657 Hawaii standard time, an Airbus AS350 B2 helicopter, N985SA, was destroyed when it collided into terrain in a remote, wooded area about 11 miles north of Kekaha, Hawaii, on the island of Kauai. The pilot and the six passengers were fatally injured. Safari Aviation Inc. (Safari), doing business as Safari Helicopters, operated the flight as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 on-demand air tour under visual flight rules (VFR).
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.