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Heli-USA Airways Aerospatiale AS350BA Haena, Hawaii

Investigation of a fatal air tour accident in Haena, Hawaii involving an Aerospatiale AS350BA helicopter. The pilot and two passengers survived, while three passengers died from drowning. The accident occurred during a tour of Kauai, near Kee Beach. The weather conditions at the time were unstable with the threat of microbursts. The pilot had a total flight experience of 2,814 hours, with 334 hours on the AS350 and 177 hours in Hawaii.

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Heli-USA Airways Aerospatiale AS350BA Haena, Hawaii

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  1. Heli-USA AirwaysAerospatiale AS350BAHaena, Hawaii Investigator-in-Charge Debra J. Eckrote

  2. Accident Location – Kee Beach • Aerospatiale AS350BA • Part 135 air tour flight • Pilot and two passengers survived • Three passengers died from drowning

  3. Tour of Kauai

  4. Passenger Photo – Na Pali Coast 7 minutes before accident Accident Site

  5. Passenger Photo – Na Pali Coast 4 minutes before accident Accident Site

  6. Other Tour Pilots in Area • First flight: entered and transited weather • Second flight: turned around • Third flight: accident • Fourth flight: entered weather and reversed course

  7. Weather Study • Upper-level disturbance • Unstable, moist, low-level environment • Conditions favorable for strong updrafts/downdrafts and threat of microburst development

  8. Weather Information Sources • Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS) • Flight Service Station (FSS) • Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) • Local weather services

  9. Pilot Flight Experience • Hired on July 29, 2005 • Completed training and competency checkrides by August 7, 2005 • First air tour flight August 8, 2005 • Total time: 2,814 hours • AS350: 334 hours • Hawaii: 177 hours

  10. Accident Sequence • Rain showers off Kailiu Point • Pilot – Evasive maneuver to avoid traffic • Passengers – No evasive maneuver • Entered reduced visibility, heavy rain • Encountered downdraft or microburst • Impacted water and immediately sank

  11. Parties to the Investigation • Federal Aviation Administration • American Eurocopter • Heli-USA Airways

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