Aerospatiale AS350 BA accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, July 7, 2002
On July 7, 2002 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS350 BA (helicopter), registered N141MK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii (Remote Landing Zone airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate tail rotor clearance from the sloping terrain in unfavorable wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2002 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · Remote Landing Zone · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350 BA · all AS350 BAs on the register
- Registration
- N141MK · no longer on the register · serial 2424
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 1 Seri (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from HNL, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N141MK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.