Hughes 369HS N77DJ
26 November 1987 · Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 26 November 1987 at about 18:10 local time, a Hughes 369HS registered N77DJ, operated by Kauai Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii, United States
- Nearest airport
- Lihue (LIH)
- Coordinates
- 21.9698, -159.3510
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS
- Registration
- N77DJ
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Kauai Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX88LA059
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
PILOT FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MAIN ROTOR RPM.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT, WHO WAS ALSO A CERTIFICATED AIRFRAME & POWERPLANT MECH, RECENTLY CHANGED THE TAILBOOM ASSY. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT HE WAS CONDUCTING A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT. THE PILOT EXECUTED ONE AUTOROTATION WITH A POWER RECOVERY. THE PLT REENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. GND WITNESSES REPTD THAT WHEN THE HELICOPTER ENTERED THE BASE LEG THEY HEARD AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND FOLLOWED BY THE TAILBOOM ASSY SEPARATING FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE WRECKAGE EXAM DSCLSD THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAILBOOM. THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES WENT OUT OF TRACK AND STRUCK THE VERTICAL FINS, SEPARATING THE UPPER VERTICAL FIN. NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS WAS FOUND. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES EXHIBITED LOW ROTOR RPM DAMAGE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 May 1987 | Hughes 369HS | Hawesville, Kentucky, United States | Helicopter Minit-Men, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1987 | Hughes 369D | Lemon Cove, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jul 1987 | Hughes 369HS | Griffith, Indiana, United States | Trademasters International | No injuries | - |
| 29 Apr 1987 | Hughes 369D | Tamunings, United States | Adriatic Sea | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 Aug 1987 | Hughes 369D | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | Temsco Helicopters | Fatal | 2 |
| 27 Sep 1987 | Hughes 369D | Seattle, Washington, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 1987 | Cessna 172K | Lanai, Hawaii, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1987 | Cessna 172C | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Eveland Aero | No injuries | - |
| 24 Dec 1987 | Piper PA-31-350 | Maunaloa, Hawaii, United States | Panorama Air Tours | Fatal | 8 |
| 29 Mar 1987 | Bell 206B | Kona, Hawaii, United States | Kona Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 20 Jan 1987 | Emroth Emair MA-1B | Naalehu, Hawaii, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1987 | Glaser-Dirks DG-400 | Dillingham, Hawaii, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |