Aerospatiale AS-350-B accident near Kahului, Hawaii, November 16, 1990
On November 16, 1990 at about 6:30 am local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350-B (helicopter), registered N350CB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kahului, Hawaii (Kahului airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT DEACTIVATION OF THE HELICOPTER'S HYDRAULIC BOOST SYSTEM AND HIS IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION THEREAFTER TO THE INFLIGHT SITUATIONS WHICH HE CREATED. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS RELATED TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE LOCATION AND DESIGN (SHAPE) OF THE HYDRAULIC TEST SWITCH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 1990 · about 6:30 am local time
- Place
- Kahului, Hawaii · Kahului · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 5 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350-B · all AS-350-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N350CB · no longer on the register · serial 2196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE PLANNED 5 MIN LONG NIGHT FLIGHT WAS TO REWARD ONE OF THE OPERATOR'S CUSTOMER'S EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR SALES PERFORMANCE RECORD. THE FLT INVOLVED A VIEW OF THE CITY. THE PILOT HAD EARLIER MADE A SIMILAR FLT, & DURING TAKEOFF HE HAD TURNED OFF THE HELICOPTER'S LANDING LIGHT TO 'AMPLIFY THE VISUAL EFFECT' OF THE RUNWAY LIGHTS. THE HELICOPTER'S MANUFACTURER HAD DESIGNED THE LIGHT SWITCH TO BE LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE HYDRAULIC TEST SWITCH. UPON DEPRESSION OF THE LIGHT SWITCH THE HELICOPTER'S LIGHT TURNED OFF. UPON DEPRESSION OF THE HYD TEST SWITCH THE HYD BOOST SYSTEM DEACTIVATED, THE CONTROLS STIFFENED & A WARNING HORN SOUNDED. DURING THE AERIAL TAXI FOR TAKEOFF, BETWEEN 25 & 50 FT AGL, THE PILOT INADVERTNETLY MISTOOK & DEPRESSED THE HYD TEST SWITCH FOR THE LIGHT SWITCH, & THE WARNING HORN ACTIVATED. WHEN THE PILOT RELEASED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL TO SILENCE THE HORN THE COLLECTIVE LOWERED & THE HELICOPTER DESCENDED UNTIL TOUCHING DOWN HARD ON THE TAXIWAY.
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: 9,000 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hawaii Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Destination: HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.