Hughes 369HS accident near Latangai Island, PO
On March 2, 2013, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Latangai Island, PO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 2, 2013
- Place
- Latangai Island, PO
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 0.511°S, 156.538°E
- NTSB ID
- 20130305X21219
Official records · WPR13LA137
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On March 2, 2013, about 1320 Universal coordinated time (UTC), a Hughes 369HS, N471M, impacted the Pacific Ocean after being struck by a commercial fishing vessel in international waters near Latangai Island, Papua New Guinea. The airline transport pilot sustained serious injuries, and the one fish spotter (passenger) sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter's main rotor assembly and tail rotor assembly were substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Jerry's Helicopter Service, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from the helicopter's designated vessel (MV FK 869) at approximately 1220 UTC. The pilot reported that while flying the fish spotter found a fish formation. The pilot was flying towards it when he observed a fishing vessel motoring nearby, and in the general direction of, where the fish were spotted. The pilot circled over the vessel and identified it as the Pacific Ranger before it proceeded to circle over the fish formation. When the fish spotter found the fish aggregating device (FAD), which are floating objects designed and strategically placed to attract fish, the pilot approached the FAD and hovered over it at a low altitude about 0.7 miles away from the Pacific Ranger. During this time, the helicopter was positioned into the wind, with the Pacific Ranger approaching from behind. The fish spotter reached out of the helicopter and attempted to attach a radio buoy to the FAD when the
Probable cause
The failure of both the pilot and the fish master of the vessel to adequately monitor their environment, which resulted in a collision.
More accidents in PO
- Piper PA-44-180T, Feb 25, 1987
- Hughes 369HS, Sep 3, 2015
- Hughes 369, Dec 28, 2008
- Bartels Lancair, Aug 14, 2015
- Hughes OH-6A, Sep 11, 2010
Browse: Papua New Guinea · Hughes aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
