Hughes 369HS accident near Latangai Island, PO, March 2, 2013
On March 2, 2013 at about 1:20 pm local time, a 1974 Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N471M, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Latangai Island, PO. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both the pilot and the fish master of the vessel to adequately monitor their environment, which resulted in a collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2013 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Latangai Island, PO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS HS, built 1974 · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N471M · no longer on the register · serial 1140671S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, as he was flying toward a school of fish, he observed a nearby fishing vessel moving in the same general direction. He flew over the vessel then continued toward a fish aggregating device (FAD), which is a floating object designed and strategically placed to attract fish; it was located about 0.7 mile away from the vessel. As the pilot approached the FAD, he circled twice and then descended the helicopter into a low hover over the FAD. The helicopter was positioned into the wind, and the vessel was approaching the helicopter from behind. With the helicopter still in a low hover, the fish spotter reached out of the helicopter to attach a radio buoy to the FAD. Shortly after, the helicopter was struck from behind by the vessel. The helicopter subsequently plunged into the ocean. The fish master, who was at the controls of the vessel, reported that he observed the helicopter circle twice before it appeared to fly out of the area. He was slowing the vessel when it was about 500 meters (0.3 mile) from the FAD when he observed the helicopter in front of the vessel. The captain of the vessel reported that he was on the vessel's helicopter deck when he noticed the helicopter circle twice and then descend to a hover. He stated that he was unsure what the helicopter was doing until he saw the fish spotter reach for the FAD. At this time, he felt the fish master reverse the vessel; however, it still impacted the helicopter's tail. The Federal Aviation Administration Model Civil Aviation Regulations, Version 2.7, Part 11 states, "Each operator shall conduct operations so as not to endanger persons or property on the surface nor aircraft in flight." The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard Navigation Rules state, "every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing...as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision." Both the pilot and the fish master of the vessel should have been adequately monitoring their environment and their failure to do so resulted in a collision.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (hover)
- Inflight upset during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Other/unknown
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, foreign licence
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,475 hours in all; 3,518 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 102 in the last 30 days; 6,372 as pilot in command; 630 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 8, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,921 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 27, 2013; 11 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jerrys Helicopter Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: Latangai Island PO at 12:20 pm
- Destination: Latangai Island PO
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
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.