Hughes 369HS accident near Keanae, Hawaii, May 5, 1991
On May 5, 1991 at about 9:29 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N9219F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Keanae, Hawaii. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL FAILURE IN FATIGUE OF THE HELICOPTER'S SPUR ADAPTER GEARSHAFT. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS RELATED TO THE LACK OF A SUITABLE EMERGENCY LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1991 · about 9:29 pm local time
- Place
- Keanae, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N9219F · no longer on the register · serial 940638S
- 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
DURING AN AIR TAXI SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF ALL ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. EXAM OF THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINE REVEALED THE FORWARD SPLINES ON THE SPUR ADAPTER GEARSHAFT HAD FAILED IN FATIGUE WHICH RESULTED IN THE SAG BEING DISCONNECTED FORM THE DRIVE SYSTEM. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE FAILED SAG REVEALED IT CONFORMED TO ITS MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. THE COMPRESSOR, AND THE SAG, WERE SUBJECT TO AN OVERHAUL 826.8 OPERATIONAL HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command; 1,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gerardin CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: OGG Kahului HI at 9:20 pm
- Destination: OGG Kahului HI
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9219F 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.