Hughes 369D accident near Hanapepe, HI

On April 18, 1994, a Hughes 369D (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Hanapepe, HI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

April 18, 1994

Place

Hanapepe, HI

Aircraft

Hughes 369D · Helicopter

Injuries

1 fatal, 4 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

21.909°N, 159.590°W

NTSB ID

20001206X01118

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 18, 1994, at 1314 hours Hawaii standard time, a Hughes 369D, N1103N, lost power while maneuvering and collided with rocky terrain below the Manawaupuna Falls, located about 7 miles northeast of Hanapepe, Kauai, Hawaii. The helicopter was being operated by Smoky Mountain Helicopters, Inc., dba Inter-Island Helicopters, Hanapepe, Hawaii, as a sightseeing flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The helicopter was destroyed. The certificated commercial pilot and three passengers were seriously injured. One passenger was fatally injured. The local flight originated at the Port Allen Airport, Hanapepe, Hawaii at 1135 hours. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The helicopter was maneuvering about 150 feet above the surface of a man-made pond below the waterfalls when the engine lost power. The pond was in a valley formed by the Hanapepe River. The surrounding terrain was mountainous covered with thick vegetation. The pilot stated he noticed a drop in "N2" with an immediate descent. The pilot attempted to fly out of the descent and increased the collective. The pilot stated he then transmitted a Mayday call and "informed the passengers a crash was eminent." The pilot flared the helicopter at treetop level and applied initial cushioning pitch approximately 5 feet above the ground. The pilot stated he did not observe any warning or caution lights during the accident. The helicopter landed hard in the rocky riverbed about 300 feet downstream from the dam of the man-made pond. All the survivors reported losing consciousness and could not give clear accounts of t

Probable cause

INADEQUATE TURBINE ENGINE COMPRESSOR CLEANING PROCEDURES BASED ON INFORMATION IN THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE LETTER, AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO BLOCKAGE OF THE FUEL NOZZLE STRAINER WITH FOREIGN MATERIAL (SODIUM). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF A SPECIFIED SERVICE REQUIRMENT FOR INSPECTION OF THE FUEL STRAINER, AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.