Bell 206B-3 accident near Waimea, Hawaii, January 16, 1986
On January 16, 1986 at about 1:45 am local time, a Bell 206B-3 (helicopter), registered N3179X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waimea, Hawaii. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. 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 16, 1986 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Waimea, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B-3 · all 206B-3s on the register
- Registration
- N3179X · no longer on the register · serial 3756
- 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
WHILE ON A LOCAL FLT, THE PLT DESCENDED TO APRX 500 FT AGL AND FLEW THE HELICOPTER ALONG A COASTAL AREA. HE REPORTED THE HELICOPTER SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND HE INITIATED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING TO THE BEACH WHERE THE HELICOPTER 'HAD A HARD LANDING.' AN EXAM REVEALED A CRACKED AND BROKEN PNEUMATIC LINE AT THE FUEL CONTROLLER.
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: 4,918 hours in all; 2,750 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 4,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,778 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 30, 1985; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MUE Kamuela HI at 1:05 am
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.
Other NTSB records under N3179X 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.