Mcdonnell Douglas 369FF accident near Haena, HI
On March 11, 2007, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369FF (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Haena, HI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 11, 2007
- Place
- Haena, HI
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 369FF · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 20.770°N, 155.989°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070322X00320
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 11, 2007, at 1259 Hawaiian Standard Time, a McDonnell Douglas (MD) 369FF helicopter, N911VC, operated by Smoky Mountain Helicopters and doing business as Inter-Island Helicopters Inc., sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain in the town of Haena on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, during a Part 135 commercial air tour flight. The flight departed from the Port Allen Airport (PAK), Hanapepe, Hawaii, on a 55-minute sightseeing tour of Kauai. During cruise flight near Tunnel Beach in Haena, the tail rotor output shaft and the tail rotor blades separated from the tail rotor gearbox and fell into the ocean. The pilot executed an autorotation to a YMCA campground that was located next to the beach. The pilot received minor injuries; however, the right front seat passenger was killed, and the three other passengers received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was in effect. The pilot stated that he reported for duty one hour prior to his first flight of the day that was scheduled for 0800. He conducted a thorough preflight of the aircraft that included an inspection of the tail rotor section. The fluid levels were normal and there were no signs of cracks, dings, or delamination of the surface and leading edges of the tail rotor blades. The pitch change links were in good condition and no loose bearings were noted. He reported that the tail rotor gearbox housing appeared to be in good condition and no cracks were observed. He checked the nuts that hold the tail rotor section in place. T
Probable cause
The fatigue failure of the tail rotor blade root fitting due to a manufacturing defect which resulted in the separation of the tail rotor system and loss of tail rotor control. A contributing factor to the accident were the trees that the helicopter struck during the autorotation.
More accidents in HI
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Browse: Hawaii · Mcdonnell Douglas 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.
