Aerospatiale AS350-D accident near Kukuihaele, Hawaii, August 11, 1994
On August 11, 1994 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS350-D (helicopter), registered N889AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kukuihaele, Hawaii. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a fatigue crack in the 'T' fitting on the power turbine governor pneumatic accumulator. A factor was the rough, rock-covered landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1994 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kukuihaele, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350-D · all AS350-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N889AT · no longer on the register · serial 1332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SIGHTSEEING HELICOPTER TOUR FLIGHT AT 1200 FEET AGL, THE PILOT HEARD AND THEN NOTICED A DECREASE IN THE MAIN ROTOR RPM. THE PILOT BEGAN A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO A BOULDER-COVERED LEDGE ABOUT 50 FEET FROM THE SURF LINE. WHEN THE PILOT ADDED POWER FOR THE LANDING, THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE MAIN ROTOR RPM HORN SOUNDED. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN ROTOR AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE ROCKS AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED A FATIGUE CRACK IN A STEEL 'T' FITTING THAT ATTACHED THE PNEUMATIC PG ACCUMULATOR TO THE POWER TURBINE GOVERNOR. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED IN THE CHANNEL OF THE FITTING WHERE THE ADJACENT NUT RETENTION WIRE IS WRAPPED. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED NO OTHER CONDITIONS THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE INITIATION OF THE CRACK.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 3,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,395 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 3, 1994; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS-101-A3 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ITO Hilo HI at 9:45 pm
- Destination: MUE Waimea HI
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from ITO, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.