Hughes 369D accident near Volcanoes Ntl P, Hawaii, May 30, 1992
On May 30, 1992 at about 11:25 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N1100A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Volcanoes Ntl P, Hawaii. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 8 BEARING. THE BEARING FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A LACK OF ENGINE OIL SUPPLY AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1992 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Volcanoes Ntl P, Hawaii
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N1100A · no longer on the register · serial 310904D
- 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 THE SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT THE PILOT INDICATED HE OBSERVED AN ENGINE CHIP LIGHT. HE INITIATED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING FROM HIS CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 1,500 FT MSL. UPON REACHING 500 FT AGL, A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED, AND THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATIVE DESCENT TO A ROAD. SECONDS PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, A TOUR BUS OBSTRUCTED THE APPROACH PATH AND THE PILOT ALTERED HIS COURSE. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT HARD LANDING, THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE #8 BEARING FAILED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF LUBRICATION. HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT THE OPERATOR HAD OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE OPERATOR CONTINUED TO UTILIZE THE HELICOPTER IN AIR TAXI SERVICE WITHOUT PERFORMING ANY RECORDED MAINTENANCE.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,567 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 24, 1992; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MUE Kamuela HI at 11:00 pm
- Destination: ITO Hilo HI
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.