Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 accident near Kameula, Hawaii, May 31, 1986
On May 31, 1986 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 (helicopter), registered N909CH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kameula, Hawaii. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- May 31, 1986 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kameula, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-355F-1 · all AS-355F-1s on the register
- Registration
- N909CH · no longer on the register · serial 5123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS HE 'HOVERED' THE HELICOPTER BTN 5 & 10 FT AFTER LIFT-OFF, HE NOTED A 'SLIGHT LATERAL VIBRATION.' HE LNDD IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE VIBRATION/GROUND RESONANCE (VIB) INCREASED IN SEVERITY, SO HE 'SHUT-OFF' BOTH THROTTLES. THE VIB CONTD TO THE EXTENT THAT HE COULDN'T HOLD ONTO THE CYCLIC CTL STICK. THE TRANSMISSION SEPD FM ITS ATTACH POINT &THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GND BFR THE ENG STOPPED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT BARS (TSB'S) HAD FAILED DRG THE ACDNT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE TSB'S, EXCEPT THE LEFT FWD TSB HAD EVIDENCE OF FA- TIGUE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BUCKLED AREA. A STRIATION COUNT INDCD THE CRACK HAD PROGRESSED OVR AN ESTD TIME OF AT LEAST 1 HR & 15 MIN. ALSO, AN ARM OF THE STARFLEX ASSY (S/A) HAD FAILED. THE S/A HAD 323 HRS SINCE RPLCMNT. CRAZE CRACKS WERE FND ON THE S/A, BUT AN EXAM FAILED TO VERIFY WHETHER THEY HAD FORMED BFR OR DRG THE ACDNT. THE S/A WAS APRX 3% POROUS & HOLES IN THE ENAMEL BARRIER ALLOWED ENVIRONMENTAL BLACKENING OF ITS EDGES. LNDG SKID SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE BADLY DMG.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,657 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 2,040 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 731 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 1985; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hemmeter Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Destination: Maui HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.