Hughes 369HS accident near Manra Island, PO
On September 3, 2015, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Manra Island, PO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 3, 2015
- Place
- Manra Island, PO
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 5.717°S, 166.117°W
- NTSB ID
- 20150903X44600
Official records · WPR15LA257
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 3, 2015, at 1752 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), a Hughes 369HS helicopter, N9068F, was destroyed following a forced landing into the Pacific Ocean about 300 nautical miles east of Manra Island, Republic of Kiribati. The El Salvador certificated helicopter pilot was fatally injured, the passenger sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was operated by Whirlwide Helicopters Inc., of Port Vila, Vanuatu. The local aerial observation flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight, which originated from a tuna fishing vessel 35 minutes prior to the accident. In a written report to the NTSB, a representative from the operator stated that the pilot and passenger/spotter were conducting fish spotting duties when the accident occurred. He reported that the helicopter descended and impacted the water and rolled upside-down. The spotter was able to exit the helicopter when he observed that the pilot's life vest had deployed while inside the helicopter and the pilot was struggling to exit. He saw the pilot stop moving, but due to his injuries was unable to assist him. A nearby fishing vessel was able to recover the pilot and the passenger but the helicopter sank and was not recovered. Shortly after being rescued, the passenger, a Vietnamese national, reported to the fish master that "the helicopter went wrong in the air and started rolling over and fell into the water." After the passenger
Probable cause
A The loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined asbecause the helicopter sank in the oceanwater and was not recovered.
More accidents in PO
- Piper PA-44-180T, Feb 25, 1987
- Hughes 369HS, Mar 2, 2013
- Hughes 369, Dec 28, 2008
- Bartels Lancair, Aug 14, 2015
- Hughes OH-6A, Sep 11, 2010
Browse: 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.
