Robinson R-22 accident near Hilo, Hawaii, April 29, 1985
On April 29, 1985, a Robinson R-22 (helicopter), registered N8447C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii (Unknown airport). It was an instructional 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
- April 29, 1985
- Place
- Hilo, Hawaii · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 · all R-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8447C · no longer on the register · serial 0373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE WITHIN 10 FT OF WHERE IT WAS PARKED PRIOR TO FLT, THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A HOVER WHEN IT ROLLED. THIS WAS THE PLTS 2ND ATTEMPT AT SOLO FLT IN THE HELICOPTER. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE NOTED DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAM. THE GROUND SCARS WERE CONSISTANT WITH DYNAMIC ROLL OVER CHARACTERISTICS.
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: student
- Flight time: 572 hours in all; 266 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,537 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 19, 1985; 812 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ITO HI
- Destination: ITO HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.