Hughes 369D accident near Hilo, Hawaii, February 15, 1985
On February 15, 1985 at about 2:50 am local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N58395, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- February 15, 1985 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Hilo, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D 369-D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N58395 · no longer on the register · serial 890563D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER TAIL BOOM WAS DAMAGED BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES DURING A FORCED AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. THE PLT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF 4500 FT MSL, THE ENG N2 DROPPED TO 92% AND APRX 15 SECONDS LATER, THE ENG FLAMED OUT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE HELICOPTER WAS FUELED WITH AVGAS INSTEAD OF TURBINE FUEL JUST PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE ENG OPERATING MANUAL APPROVES OF THIS FUEL SUBSTITUTION IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, HOWEVER, IT ADVISED THAT WHEN AVGAS IS USED, THE FUEL BOOST PUMP MUST BE LEFT ON. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECALL WHETHER OR NOT THE PUMP WAS ON.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,345 hours in all; 4,820 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,375 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 7, 1985; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sunair Copters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ITO Hilo HI
- Destination: OGG Kahului HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N58395 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.