Hughes 269C accident near Kalapana, Hawaii, July 25, 1989
On July 25, 1989, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N58344, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kalapana, Hawaii. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST VALVE IN THE NO. 2 CYLINDER AND THE DISREGARD OF THE LYCOMING SERVICE BULLETIN BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH VEGETATION AND TREES LOCATED AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1989
- Place
- Kalapana, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N58344 · registry record · serial 1090836
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION INTO HIGH VEGETATION AND TREES FOLLOWING AN ENGINE FAILURE. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NO. 2 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE FAILED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE LOGBOOK REVEALED LYCOMING SERVICE BULLETIN 388A HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,059 hours in all; 248 in this make and model; 188 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 2,442 as pilot in command; 1,049 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ITO Hilo HI
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.