Summary
On December 28, 2008, a Hughes 369 (N104BN) was involved in an accident near Honiara, PO. The accident resulted in 1 fatal injury, 1 serious injury. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to remove the tail rotor pedal lock before attempting flight, resulting in a loss of control.
On December 28, 2008, about 0545 Coordinated Universal Time, a Hughes 369A helicopter, N104BN, impacted ocean water and sank following a loss of control on takeoff from a fishing vessel in the Pacific Ocean's Solomon Sea, about 350 miles west of Honiara, Solomon Islands. The pilot, a Philippine national, was not found and is presumed dead, and the passenger, a Chinese national, sustained serious injuries. The helicopter, which was registered to Oceanside Helicopters, Inc., of Port Vila, Vanuatu, was not recovered and is presumed destroyed.
This accident is documented in NTSB report WPR09LA069. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N104BN.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to remove the tail rotor pedal lock before attempting flight, resulting in a loss of control.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On December 28, 2008, about 0545 Coordinated Universal Time, a Hughes 369A helicopter, N104BN, impacted ocean water and sank following a loss of control on takeoff from a fishing vessel in the Pacific Ocean's Solomon Sea, about 350 miles west of Honiara, Solomon Islands. The pilot, a Philippine national, was not found and is presumed dead, and the passenger, a Chinese national, sustained serious injuries. The helicopter, which was registered to Oceanside Helicopters, Inc., of Port Vila, Vanuatu, was not recovered and is presumed destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local work use flight.
According to a written statement provided by the helicopter's mechanic, who witnessed the accident, the pilot forgot to remove the tail rotor pedal lock before takeoff. The helicopter lifted off and began to spin. The mechanic saw the pilot "trying to grab the pedal lock;" however, the pilot was unsuccessful. The helicopter impacted the water, the fixed floats separated, and the helicopter sank.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR09LA069