Hughes 369E accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, January 21, 1985
On January 21, 1985 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369E (helicopter), registered N121JP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a personal 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
- January 21, 1985 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369E · all 369Es on the register
- Registration
- N121JP · registry record · serial 0085E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN FLT OVER WATER AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL & 1/2 MI FROM SHORE, THE PLT SAW A LARGE FLOCK OF WHITE BIRDS. HE REPORTED THAT HE FLARED TO A STOP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE BIRDS. AFTER THE HELICOPTER STRUCK BIRD(S), AN EXTREME VIBRATION DEVELOPED. THE PLT ELECTED TO 'GET DOWN TO THE WATER.' THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON THE WATER, ROLLED OVER & SANK, BUT THE PLT EGRESSED & SWAM TO SHORE WITHOUT INJURY.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 85 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1984; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C20B-250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from HNL, 16 miles away
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.