Eurocopter France AS350B2 accident near Kahului, Hawaii, December 25, 2021
On December 25, 2021 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1986 Eurocopter France AS350B2 (helicopter), registered N752CH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (hover) near Kahului, Hawaii (Kahului Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s abrupt flight control inputs to correct for dynamic rollover, resulting in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 2021 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kahului, Hawaii · Kahului Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter France AS350B2, built 1986 · all AS350B2s on the register
- Registration
- N752CH · registry record · serial 1906
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was repositioning the helicopter from one landing pad to another. As the helicopter lifted off the ground, the right skid became momentarily stuck, and the helicopter began to roll to the right. To prevent dynamic rollover, the pilot immediately lowered the collective. As a result, the helicopter’s left skid struck the ground and the helicopter bounced, sustaining substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abrupt maneuver during maneuvering (hover) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,536 hours in all; 288 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 1,436 as pilot in command; 859 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 8, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,640 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, December 10, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 3,388 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell LTS101-700D-2 (turboshaft); 14,105 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from PHOG, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR PHOG 252254Z 06017G23KT 10SM FEW035 SCT055 26/15 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP154 T02610150=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.