Bell 206BIII accident near Kaaawa, Hawaii, April 1, 1992
On April 1, 1992 at about 1:10 am local time, a Bell 206BIII (helicopter), registered N3200N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kaaawa, Hawaii. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENGINE FLAME OUT DUE TO THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT THROUGH AN IRRIGATION SPRINKLER SYSTEM WATER STREAM IN ORDER TO WASH THE HELICOPTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1992 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Kaaawa, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206BIII · all 206BIIIs on the register
- Registration
- N3200N · registry record · serial 3812
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER CONCLUDING THE DAILY TOUR CONTRACT WITH THE HELICOPTER IT WAS TO BE PARKED AT A HANGAR NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE. ENROUTE TO THE HANGAR THE HELICOPTER WAS INTENTIONALLY FLOWN NEAR A FARM IRRIGATION SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN AN ATTEMPT TO WASH OFF THE ACCUMULATED DIRT. AFTER THE SECOND PASS THROUGH THE WATER STREAM, THE ENGINE OUT WARNING LIGHT AND AUDIO WARNING WAS ACTIVATED AND THE ENGINE QUIT. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD DURING THE SUBSEQUENT AUTO ROTATION TO AN UNIMPROVED DIRT ROAD.
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: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 801 hours in all; 216 in this make and model; 243 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days; 545 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,891 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 2, 2000; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C-20J (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N3200N 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.