Mcdonnell Douglas 369E accident near Hilo, Hawaii, May 18, 1990
On May 18, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369E (helicopter), registered N1602N, was involved in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii (Hilo Intl. airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER SUPERVISION AND ABSENCE OF ASSISTANCE BY THE COMPANY TO PASSENGERS DISEMBARKING THE HELICOPTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hilo, Hawaii · Hilo Intl. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 369E
- Registration
- N1602N · no longer on the register · serial 0230
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PASSENGERS BEGAN DISEMBARKING THE HELICOPTER UPON RETURNING FROM A SIGHT SEEING FLIGHT. A PASSENGER EXITING THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR USED THE HAND ASSIST STRAP. HER REACH DID NOT ENABLE HER TO HOLD ON TO THE ASSIST STRAP AND REACH THE LANDING SKID WITH HER FOOT. SHE RELEASED THE HAND STRAP AS HER FOOT TOUCHED THE LANDING GEAR SKID AND SHE SLIPPED FRACTURING HER ANKLE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command; 1,300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation, Io
The flight
- Departed from: ITO
- Destination: 0
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.