Helicopter Strikes Water After Engine Malfunction During Sightseeing Flight (N54522)

Accident Details

A helicopter carrying a pilot and two paying passengers for a sightseeing flight struck the water shortly after takeoff. The pilot reported that approximately two minutes after departing from a beach helipad, he felt the engine sputter and the cyclic stick shake. Less than ten seconds later, the aircraft hit the water in a level attitude with a very high rate of descent.

Pilot's Account

The pilot stated that he had completed 14 flights and the engine had been run for about 30 minutes since he topped off the fuel tanks the night before. He expressed doubts about the accuracy of the fuel quantity gauge but did not visually check the tanks that morning. The pilot did not possess a pilot's certificate.

Background

The flight was a sightseeing ride with two paying passengers. The pilot had refueled the aircraft the previous evening and had flown multiple flights since then. No further details about the aircraft or the circumstances were provided.