Hughes 369D accident near Kahului, Hawaii, June 11, 1993
On June 11, 1993 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N1113L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kahului, Hawaii. It was an other work-use 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
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE GROUND OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE WHILE ENGAGED IN A CATTLE HERDING OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1993 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kahului, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N1113L · no longer on the register · serial 1100837D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO HERD SOME CATTLE DOWN A 20 TO 25 DEGREE SLOPE WHEN THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A ROCK AND HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ROTATE AND THE PILOT ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF AND 'PLANTED THE HELICOPTER ON THE GROUND.' DURING THE LANDING, THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM CUT THE TAIL BOOM OFF.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 13,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 9, 1993; 5 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: OGG at 6:00 pm
- Destination: OGG
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 N1113L 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.