Hughes 369D accident near Kahoolawe Isle, Hawaii, October 10, 2001
On October 10, 2001 at about 3:00 am local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N622WA, was involved in an accident near Kahoolawe Isle, Hawaii. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadequate visual surveillance by the pilot before takeoff resulting in liftoff with a deplaning passenger still partially aboard the helicopter. A factor in the accident was the operator's inadequate procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2001 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Kahoolawe Isle, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N622WA · registry record · serial 200674D
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A deplaning passenger was still reaching into the helicopter, re-securing the seatbelt, as the pilot lifted off for departure, and was lifted aloft straddling the right-hand landing gear strut. He subsequently fell to the ground. The helicopter had previously landed and deplaned three passengers with the engine operating and rotors turning. Two of the passengers then walked away from the front of the helicopter. The pilot reported they had given him a "thumbs up" signifying the passengers were clear of the helicopter and he could depart. The passengers reported they did not give such a signal.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,897 hours in all
- Last flight review: February 16, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,758 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 1, 2001; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kahoolawe HI at 3:00 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 20 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 am from PHOG, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.