Incident Overview
On a formation flight for a movie production, a Hughes helicopter (registered N64MK) and a Mooney airplane (N5801N) collided while cruising past Diamond Head at 100 knots and 1,000 feet above sea level. The Mooney, serving as the lead aircraft, was flown by an airline transport pilot in the left seat, with an actress in the right front seat and a cameraman aboard. The Hughes was flown by a commercial certificated pilot, also from the left seat, with a cameraman on board. Both pilots maintained radio contact.
Sequence of Events
Videotape from both aircraft documented the flight. The Hughes was observed decreasing its distance from the Mooney's right wing, eventually joining in a tight side-by-side formation. At times, the helicopter was several feet higher, lower, in front of, and behind the Mooney. The Mooney pilot reported that she had been observing the Hughes. Seconds before the collision, the Mooney pilot diverted her attention away from the helicopter to look out her left windshield and point out a shoreline hotel to the actress. Immediately thereafter, the Hughes' main rotor blades impacted and severed the outer three feet of the Mooney's right wing.
Aftermath
Following the collision, the Mooney landed without further incident. The Hughes autorotated into the ocean and sank.
Aircraft and Crew
The Hughes helicopter, N64MK, and the Mooney airplane, N5801N, were both equipped with cameramen for filming. No injuries to occupants were reported.