Amateur-built RV-8A accident near Lihue, Hawaii, January 18, 2004
On January 18, 2004 at about 6:50 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-8A, registered N809RS, was destroyed in an accident near Lihue, Hawaii. It was a personal 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 engine lost partial power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2004 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lihue, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-8A
- Registration
- N809RS · no longer on the register · serial 80960
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was ditched in the ocean following a partial loss of engine power. During the initial descent into the destination airport, the pilot noted a "faint rumble and then the manifold pressure and rpm reduced very smoothly." He changed fuel tanks, turned the fuel pump into the "ON" position, and "moved" the throttle; however, full engine power was not restored. The engine was idling about 1200 rpm, the oil pressure gage indicated 40, and the fuel pressure gage was indicating normal. The pilot transmitted a "Mayday" call. He continued to troubleshoot the problem by turning the ignition to the "OFF" position, then to the "ON" position. The manifold pressure and rpm did not change. After securing the ELT and a life vest, the pilot opened the canopy when the airplane was approximately 200 feet asl. The airplane impacted the ocean at 50 knots. The pilot then swam out to the tail of the airplane. The airplane sank in about 3 minutes.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 19,088 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 362 in the last 90 days; 188 in the last 30 days; 13,552 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 11, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 6:20 pm
- Destination: HLI Lihue HI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; a few clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from HLI, 25 miles away
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.