Bell 47J-2 accident near Kahuku, Hawaii, January 1, 1984
On January 1, 1984 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Bell 47J-2 (helicopter), registered N2097, was destroyed in an accident near Kahuku, Hawaii. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 1, 1984 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kahuku, Hawaii
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 47J-2 · all 47J-2s on the register
- Registration
- N2097 · no longer on the register · serial 2832
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 3 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE HELICOPTER WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING IN A 'GLIDING FASHION' UNTIL WATER IMPACT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE FLYING STRAIGHT & DID NOT APPEAR TO BE IN TROUBLE. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT SHE COULD HEAR THE ENG & IT SOUNDED NORMAL. ONLY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, MAST, SWASHPLATE CONTROL ASSEMBLY, TRANSMISSION & ENG WERE RECOVERED.
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: 7,645 hours in all; 1,132 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 5,603 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,025 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming VO-540-B1B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.