Bell 206B accident near Kahului, Hawaii, August 16, 2004
On August 16, 2004 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N529RS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kahului, Hawaii (Kahului Helipad airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. Contributing factors were the direct crosswind and his lack of total experience in the accident helicopter make and model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2004 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Kahului, Hawaii · Kahului Helipad · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N529RS · no longer on the register · serial 989
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter experienced a dynamic rollover to the right during an attempted takeoff in gusty crosswinds. The pilot noted the wind was a direct left crosswind at 17 knots with gusts to 21 knots. While applying collective input for takeoff, the left skid started to rise. The pilot countered by applying left pedal and cyclic input; however, the helicopter continued rolling to the right. Witnesses stated the right skid never separated from the helipad. The commercial pilot had a total of 6.6 hours in the accident helicopter make and model. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the helicopter that would have contributed to the accident.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 452 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days; 215 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,513.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 13, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C-20R (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OGG Kahului HI at 8:25 pm
- Destination: Kona HI
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:25 pm from OGG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.