Bell 206B accident near Lihue, Hawaii, June 7, 1991
On June 7, 1991 at about 1:20 am local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N212OX, was destroyed in an accident near Lihue, Hawaii (Lihue airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ENSURE THAT SUFFICIENT FUEL WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1991 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Lihue, Hawaii · Lihue · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N212OX · no longer on the register · serial 3463
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SIGHTSEEING HELICOPTER TOUR AND NOTICED A FUEL PUMP CAUTION LIGHT. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL WAS LOW BUT DECIDED THAT SUFFICIENT FUEL WAS AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE A LANDING APPROACH TO THE DEPARTURE HELIPAD. AT ABOUT 50 FEET A.G.L. AND ABOUT 40 KNOTS OF AIRSPEED, THE ENGINE QUIT. DURING THE AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING, COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR AND THEN IMPACTING AN AIRPORT PERIMETER FENCE. ALL AVAILABLE FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED. THE HELICOPTER WAS REFUELED PRIOR TO THE THIRD DEPARTURE, OF A TOTAL OF FIVE FLIGHTS. FOLLOWING A LUNCH BREAK, THE PILOT DEPARTED ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. COMPANY MANIFEST SHEETS FOR EACH FLIGHT LIST A STANDARD FUEL LOAD OF 40 OR 65 GALLONS. IN THIS ACCIDENT, THE MANIFEST SHEETS DID NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE ACTUAL QUANTITY OF FUEL ON BOARD FOR EACH FLIGHT. THE PILOT DID NOT VISUALLY VERIFY THE ACTUAL FUEL AMOUNT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 2,260 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,018 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 17, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:26 am from LIH, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.