On 26 December 2019, an Airbus Helicopters AS350 on a commercial sightseeing flight over the Hawaiian island of Kauai impacted terrain and was destroyed killing all seven occupants. The Investigation concluded that the experienced pilot had decided to continue the flight into unexpectedly encountered cloud contrary to Company Policy. Contributory factors were identified as the delayed implementation of a Hawaiian aviation weather camera programme, an absence of regulatory leadership in the development of a weather training program for Hawaiian air tour pilots and an overall lack of effective regulatory monitoring and oversight of Hawaiian air tour operators’ weather-related operating practices.
Description
On 26 December 2019, an Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2 (N985SA) being operated by Safari Aviation on a day VFR commercial sightseeing flight for six passengers flown by a single pilot over the Hawaiian island of Kauai entered IMC north of Kekaha and was subsequently in collision with terrain. It was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire with no survivors.
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