Bell 206B accident near Hanalei, Hawaii, June 8, 1986
On June 8, 1986 at about 2:27 am local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N29906, was destroyed in an accident near Hanalei, Hawaii (Princeville airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were seriously injured. 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
- June 8, 1986 · about 2:27 am local time
- Place
- Hanalei, Hawaii · Princeville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N29906 · no longer on the register · serial 1012
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HELICOPTER HAD JUST DEPARTED RUNWAY 05. GROUND WITNESSES AND SEVERAL OCCUPANTS IN THE HELICOPTER REPORTED THAT WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 150 FT AGL IT SUSTAINED A TOTAL ENGINE POWER LOSS. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY ENTERED INTO AN ABRUPT RIGHT TURN AUTOROTATION. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED ON A PLATEAU AND THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN SLOPES DOWNWARD. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED ABOUT 100 YARDS EAST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. POST-IMPACT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED IT WAS NOT OPERATING AT IMPACT. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN TESTED DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE AIRFRAME FUEL FILTER CONTAINED DISCOLORED FUEL AND SOME CONTAMINATES; THE FUEL DOWNSTREAM, HOWEVER, WAS FREE OF ANY DISCOLORATION AND/OR CONTAMINATES.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,682 hours in all; 2,005 in this make and model; 328 in the last 90 days; 110 in the last 30 days; 6,182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,796 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 26, 1986; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HPV Hanalei HI at 2:26 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 3,400 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.