Hughes 369D accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, May 25, 1984
On May 25, 1984 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N211EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii (Honolulu Intl airport). It was a positioning 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 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
- May 25, 1984 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · Honolulu Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N211EH · no longer on the register · serial 380288D
- 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 TAIL ROTOR FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING THE AIRPORT ON A VFR LOCAL SLING LOADING FLT. THE PLT STATED THAT, 'AT APPROX 500 FT ASL ON CLIMB OUT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN, SEVERE VIBRATION. MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO RETURN TO AIRPORT & STARTED A RAPID DESCENT. AT ABOUT 200 FT TURNED BACK INTO WIND FOR AUTOROTATION LANDING TO TAXI-WAY H. HAD NO TAIL ROTOR CONTROL AT THIS POINT SO ELECTED TO MAKE A RUNNING LANDING ON TAXIWAY.' INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN INFLT FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR AFTER THE LEADING EDGE ABRASION STRIP HAD BECOME DE- TACHED. EXAMINATION REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A COHESIVE FAILURE THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,650 hours in all; 1,308 in this make and model; 96 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,175 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 22, 1984; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 11:43 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from HNL
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.
Other NTSB records under N211EH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.