Bell 206B accident near Hilo, Hawaii, November 9, 1991
On November 9, 1991 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered N16712, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADVERTENT ENCOUNTER WITH A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS PHENOMENA AND THE RESULTANT PILOT INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 1991 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hilo, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N16712 · no longer on the register · serial 2181
- 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
ACCORDING TO THE PILOTS STATEMENT, AS THE HELICOPTER FLEW OVER A SADDLE PASS IN A MOUNTAIN AREA THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS WHICH RAPIDLY CLOSED DOWN ON AND AROUND THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SAID 'I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO SLOW DOWN AND TRY TO TURN AROUND WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE LOW CLOUDS THAT WERE MOVING IN.' AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, IT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ROTATE TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE YAW WITH LEFT PEDDLE INPUT AND AFTER THREE REVOLUTIONS THE LOW ROTOR RPM HORN SOUNDED. THE PILOT SAID THAT SHE FELT THE HELICOPTER CONTROL DIMINISH AND SHE ELECTED TO PUT THE HELICOPTER DOWN ON THE GROUND. AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 6 FEET THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE.
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: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 220 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 1,530 as pilot in command; 450 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,499 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 23, 1991; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HI07 Waikoloa HI at 8:00 pm
- Destination: ITO Hilo HI
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: broken clouds at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 |
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.