Aerospatiale AS350D accident near Kula, Hawaii, September 26, 1985
On September 26, 1985 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS350D (helicopter), registered N4268V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kula, Hawaii. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed and 5 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 26, 1985 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kula, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 5 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350D · all AS350Ds on the register
- Registration
- N4268V · no longer on the register · serial 1082
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE ON A SIGHTSEEING TOUR. THE PLT STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER LOST ALT AS HE ATTEMPTED TO CROSS POWER LINES. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST DURING THE ENSUING DOWN WIND EMERGENCY LANDING. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE MOUNTAIN AND ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE ACFT FLT MANUAL INDICATES THAT AT THE ACFT'S GROSSWEIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THE MAX HOVER IN GROUND EFFECT (HIGE) ALT CAPABILITY IS 7900 FT. THE ELEVATION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 9700 FT.
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: 5,490 hours in all; 586 in this make and model; 253 in the last 90 days; 91 in the last 30 days; 5,220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,268 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 14, 1984; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101A2 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Papillon Helicopters, LTD
The flight
- Departed from: Lahaina HI at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from OGG, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 4 |
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.