Eurocopter France AS 350 BA accident near Hilo, Hawaii, September 9, 2003
On September 9, 2003 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Eurocopter France AS 350 BA (helicopter), registered N5206J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were fog, rough/uneven terrain, and spatial disorientation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2003 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hilo, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter France AS 350 BA · all AS 350 BAs on the register
- Registration
- N5206J · no longer on the register · serial 3100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter collided with the ground while attempting to turn away from deteriorating weather conditions. During a flight through mountainous terrain, mist and low-level clouds were encountered. The pilot turned the helicopter away and initiated a climb; however, he was unable to maintain a climb. The helicopter settled into the terrain. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,676 hours in all; 1,023 in this make and model; 186 in the last 90 days; 99 in the last 30 days; 6,490 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 28, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,732.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 6, 2003; 8.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,630 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 1 B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hapuna Heliport HI at 9:33 pm
- Destination: Hapuna Heliport HI
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; scat
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.
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.