Hughes 369D accident near Hi. Nat'L Park, Hawaii, March 26, 1994
On March 26, 1994, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N113RS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hi. Nat'L Park, Hawaii. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's in-flight decision to maneuver the helicopter close to an active volcano steam vent which resulted in a whiteout condition from the steam, and the pilot's subsequent loss of visual contact with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1994
- Place
- Hi. Nat'L Park, Hawaii
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N113RS · registry record · serial 590506D
- 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
THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A STEAM CLOUD WHILE HOVERING AND COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN NEAR A VOLCANO VENT. THE PILOT LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND WHILE AT A 5-FOOT HOVER AFTER BEING ENVELOPED BY THE STEAM CLOUD. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND BY DESCENDING. DURING THE DESCENT, THE HELICOPTER'S LEFT SKID STRUCK A ROCK. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED RIGHT AND STRUCK THE GROUND.
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: 5,025 hours in all; 3,009 in this make and model; 139 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 4,525 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,133 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 1994; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ITO Hilo HI
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,300 ft; not recorded at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from ITO, 24 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.
Other NTSB records under N113RS 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.