Hughes 369D accident near Puako, HI
On May 11, 1997, a Hughes 369D (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Puako, HI. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 11, 1997
- Place
- Puako, HI
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 19.929°N, 155.789°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07947
NTSB summary
On May 10, 1997, at 1620 hours Hawaii standard time, a Hughes 369D, N5105N, en route to Waimea, Hawaii, experienced an in-flight loss of power, collided with hilly terrain, and burned near Puako, Hawaii. The aircraft was destroyed; and the pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The remaining two passengers received serious injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by the pilot/operator when the accident occurred. The flight originated near Mano Point, Hawaii, at 1605. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. A witness at the accident site reported that the aircraft was approaching him. He estimated the aircraft was on a northwesterly heading, about 100 to 200 feet agl, when he heard the engine quit. Immediately after the power loss, the aircraft banked left and descended, nose low, until the main rotor blades struck the ground. The aircraft continued forward until the lower forward fuselage also contacted the ground. The aircraft then yawed right about 90 degrees, rolled onto its left side, and then rebounded back into the air. It continued another 20 feet before coming to rest on its left side. The tailboom was severed about 3 feet forward of the tail rotor gearbox and came to rest ahead of the main wreckage. All other debris was found within a 30-foot radius of the main wreckage. The long axis of ground scar from the initial fuselage contact was on a 010- degree magnetic bearing. Winds at the time were reported to be from 130 degrees at 8 knots. The center front seat and right front seat passenger
Probable cause
erosion of second stage stator vanes, inadequate maintenance inspection for the erosion, and subsequent fatigue failure of a stator vane, which resulted in loss of engine power and a forced landing on mountainous/hilly terrain. Also causal was: the pilot's loading of the aircraft in such a manner that exceeded the forward CG limit, which resulted in his failure (or inability) to properly flare the
More accidents in HI
- Beech 65-A90, Jun 22, 2019
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- Boeing 747-122, Feb 24, 1989
- Beech E18S, Apr 23, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Dec 24, 1987
Browse: Hawaii · Hughes aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
