Duff MINI-500 accident near Lihue, Kauai, HI
On April 17, 1997, a Duff MINI-500 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Lihue, Kauai, HI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 17, 1997
- Place
- Lihue, Kauai, HI
- Aircraft
- Duff MINI-500 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 22.140°N, 159.310°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07748
NTSB summary
On April 16, 1997, at 1424 hours Hawaiian standard time, a single-place Duff Mini-500 homebuilt experimental helicopter, N13118, was destroyed when it impacted the ground in the vicinity of Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii. The student pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed from the pilot's Anahole residence for an unknown destination. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight and no en route communications were received by any Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facility. An eyewitness, who was approximately 1/4 mile from the crash location, stated that the aircraft appeared to be about 500 feet agl, and that the engine did not sound as if it was maintaining a steady rpm. The aircraft was then observed to start yawing to the left and right, which was followed by a left roll to an inverted attitude, from which it descended nose down to the ground. At the time the final roll began, the tail rotor and gear box were observed to separate from the tail boom. The witness also stated that he heard a "tick-tick-tick" sound emanating from the aircraft at the time that it appeared to be in trouble. The helicopter was examined by an FAA airworthiness inspector from the Honolulu, Hawaii, Flight Standards District Office, with the technical assistance of the aircraft kit manufacturer's safety investigator. According to their report, which is appended to this report, the fuel system was intact and without obstructions. The system was equipped with a motorcycle fuel filter, but no debris or obstructions were found in the filter and there was no evidence of a fuel problem. All control
Probable cause
the student pilot's improper use of the helicopter flight controls, which resulted in rotor contact with the tail boom and loss of control. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's lack of total and recent training and experience in airborne control of helicopters.
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Browse: Hawaii
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
