McDonnell Douglas 369D N58240
18 December 1990 · Keanae, Hawaii, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 18 December 1990 at about 17:45 local time, a McDonnell Douglas 369D registered N58240, operated by Pacific Helicopters Inc., was involved in an accident near Keanae, Hawaii, United States. 4 people were on board and one had minor injuries. 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 17:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Keanae, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 20.7699, -155.9906
- Aircraft
- McDonnell Douglas 369D
- Registration
- N58240
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Pacific Helicopters Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Hana → Kahului
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA058
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Probable cause
FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY A LOOSE FUEL LINE 'B' NUT, DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE; AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CORRECTLY JUDGE THE LANDING FLARE DURING THE AUTOROTATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT OF A HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE CLIMB AT 2600 FEET 300/400 FEET ABOVE A WATERFALL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHEN THE ENGINE OUT AND LOW RPM WARNING HORN AND LIGHT CAME ON. THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A FLOWER FARM DOWNHILL. DURING THE DESCENT HE MADE A SERIES OF POWER CHANGES WHICH REVEALED A DETERIORATION IN AVAILABLE POWER. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD ON THE REAR PORTION OF THE SKIDS. THE MAIN ROTORS SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM AND ROTOR SYSTEM.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other McDonnell Douglas 369 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May 1990 | McDonnell Douglas 369E | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Aviation, IO | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Dec 1990 | McDonnell Douglas 369D | Haleakla Nat Pk, Hawaii, United States | Paciffic Helicopter Tours | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Nov 1990 | McDonnell Douglas 369E | Los Alamitos, California, United States | Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept | No injuries | - |
| 10 Nov 1990 | McDonnell Douglas 369E | Llano, California, United States | Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1990 | McDonnell Douglas 369HS | Modesto, California, United States | David L. Heath | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 1990 | McDonnell Douglas 369E | Anadarko, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 1990 | Bell 206B | Oahu, Hawaii, United States | Hawaii Int'l Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 May 1990 | Hughes 369C | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Alex Air | No injuries | - |
| 16 Nov 1990 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Hawaii Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 May 1990 | Schweizer SGS 1-26 | Waialua, Hawaii, United States | Soar Hawaii, Ltd. | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 1990 | Hughes 369D | Hanapepe, Hawaii, United States | Smoky Mountain Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 28 Sep 1990 | Waco YMS | Kailua, Hawaii, United States | Kegel, Gary | No injuries | - |