Bell 206 B-2 accident near Aieia, Hawaii, December 4, 2001
On December 4, 2001, a Bell 206 B-2 (helicopter), registered N968YC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aieia, Hawaii. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of lateral control while in a hover that resulted in a rollover and collision with the ground. A factor was the unclear exit and boarding procedures provided to the work crew, who were non-aviators, during the preflight briefing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 2001
- Place
- Aieia, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 B-2 · all 206 B-2s on the register
- Registration
- N968YC · no longer on the register · serial 1427
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a hovering passenger pickup, the helicopter rolled over and collided with the ground. The purpose of the flight was to pickup a work crew and transfer them to another location. When the helicopter arrived at the pickup location, the pilot radioed the crew that he wanted them to board the helicopter from the left side. When the first man boarded the helicopter, it was from the right side, and he did not change his seat position to the opposite side. According to the pilot, as the second man was boarding, the helicopter began to "sway" back and forth. He released his grip on the helicopter, and was backing away from it when the helicopter impacted the ground on its right side. The work crews stated that the helicopter began "swaying" out of control before the second workman reached the helicopter to board. The work crews had been briefed earlier that day that if the pilot was unable to land due to terrain, the crew would have to exit and enter the helicopter while it was hovered. The seating arrangement was for the heavier people to sit in the back, with the lighter person seated in the front. One person was to board at a time, and then move to the opposite side of the helicopter before a second workman boarded. The last person to enter the helicopter would be the front seat passenger.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,405 hours in all; 3,298 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 4,355 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 26, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Aieia HI at 11:20 pm
- Destination: Aieia HI
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from HNL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.