Robinson R-22 BETA accident near Honolulu, Hawaii, August 11, 1993
On August 11, 1993 at about 4:06 am local time, a Robinson R-22 BETA (helicopter), registered N4017J, was destroyed in an accident near Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A DIVERGENCE OF THE MAIN ROTOR FROM ITS NORMAL PLANE OF ROTATION FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S) WHICH RESULTED IN ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE AIRFRAME.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1993 · about 4:06 am local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 BETA · all R-22 BETAs on the register
- Registration
- N4017J · no longer on the register · serial 1443
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 10 MI FROM THE DESTINATION, THE PILOT RADIOED APPROACH CONTROL TO ENTER THE TCA. HE WAS GIVEN A TRANSPONDER CODE BY THE CONTROLLER, BUT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRANSMISSION. WITNESSES NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED HEARING A LOUD 'EXPLOSION', OR A METAL TO METAL SOUND, AND THEN OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. ONE WITNESSES SAID THE ROTOR DISK TILTED AND STRUCK THE AIRFRAME. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE HAD ENTERED THE FORWARD LEFT SIDE OF THE CABIN.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,350 hours in all; 140 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,816 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1993; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNY Lanai HI at 3:25 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 am from HNL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.