Hughes 369E accident near Volcano, Hawaii, September 4, 1994
On September 4, 1994 at about 3:45 am local time, a Hughes 369E (helicopter), registered N279F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Volcano, Hawaii. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate main rotor rpm and the resultant inadvertent skid 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
- September 4, 1994 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Volcano, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369E · all 369Es on the register
- Registration
- N279F · no longer on the register · serial 0122E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SIGHTSEEING TOUR HELICOPTER WITH FOUR PASSENGERS ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT AND THE PILOT LANDED AT 7,500 FEET MSL TO WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO CLEAR. DURING THE LANDING, PASSENGERS HEARD AND OBSERVED THE LOW ROTOR RPM ANNUNCIATOR. AFTER THE WEATHER CLEARED, A LOW BATTERY PREVENTED THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. A SECOND HELICOPTER (THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT) WITH THE PILOT AND A MECHANIC WAS DISPATCHED TO RETRIEVE THE PASSENGERS. DURING LIFT-OFF, THE PASSENGERS AGAIN HEARD AND OBSERVED THE LOW ROTOR RPM ANNUNCIATOR. THE HELICOPTER'S NOSE PIVOTED ABOUT 45 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AS THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED DOWNSLOPE. THE HELICOPTER'S LEFT LANDING GEAR SKID STRUCK A SMALL RIDGE AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER. BOTH AIRCRAFT AND ALL OCCUPANTS REMAINED OVERNIGHT UNTIL RESCUE THE FOLLOWING DAY.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,705 hours in all; 557 in this make and model; 416 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 1,581 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,868 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 27, 1994; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison A250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ITO Hilo HI at 3:15 am
- Destination: ITO HI
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 am from ITO, 30 miles away
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.