What happened
On June 2, 2004, an Aerospatiale AS350B, registration JA9445, operated by Yuuhi Aviation Company Limited, crashed near the threshold of runway 01 at Yamagata Airport, Japan. The flight, which was conducting aerial photography, had departed from Gunma Heliport and performed a refueling stop at Kawashima Temporary Heliport.
During the photography mission, the pilot encountered heavy winds and frequent altitude changes to avoid obstacles, which increased fuel consumption. While holding in the traffic pattern at Yamagata Airport, the fuel caution light illuminated. The pilot continued the mission, attempting to land while observing a scheduled J-AIR flight. As the aircraft circled on the base leg, the engine began to run irregularly, and the fuel gauge approached zero. Realizing the engine was failing due to fuel exhaustion, the pilot declared an "Emergency Landing" and attempted an autorotation toward the airport perimeter. The aircraft struck the ground in a grass field with high speed and a shallow angle, causing the tail boom to separate and the fuselage to be destroyed. The photographer sustained fatal injuries, while the captain was seriously injured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight history, aircraft maintenance records, and ATC communications. Investigators analyzed the engine instruments, the fuel system, and the flight path leading to the impact. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's decision-making process regarding fuel management and the adherence to company and flight manual procedures. Additionally, the condition of the passenger's seatbelt was examined to determine the circumstances of the fatalities.