The president of a helicopter supply company whose actions were determined by the NTSB to be a contributing factor in the January 2006 crash of a Eurocopter AS 350D has claimed that the Safety Board left out pertinent information in the probable cause report. Furthermore, the NTSB acknowledges that it never investigated the complete ownership history of the engine.
The helicopter, N90Q, lost engine power during a sightseeing flight in Hawaii and suffered “substantial” damage during the landing. Neither the commercial-rated pilot nor the six passengers were injured. Investigators attributed the loss of power to “significant” engine-bearing damage and heat distress caused by an oil-starvation event seven years before the crash. The Safety Board also concluded that a contributing factor was the failure of the engine leasing agent, Spring, Texas-based Sunrise Helicopters, and the helicopter Part 135 operator, Kahului, Hawaii-based Alika Aviation (operating as Alex Air), to ensure the engine’s airworthiness.
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