Hughes 369HS accident near Hana, Hawaii, October 12, 1995
On October 12, 1995 at about 3:55 am local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N9205F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hana, Hawaii (Hana airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 4 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power due to inadequate maintenance inspection of the fuel system which permitted air to enter the engine fuel supply. A factor in the accident was the pilot's improper execution of the autorotation landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1995 · about 3:55 am local time
- Place
- Hana, Hawaii · Hana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N9205F · no longer on the register · serial 440583S
- 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
DURING DEPARTURE, UPON REACHING 100 FEET ALTITUDE AND 60 KNOTS AIRSPEED, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN AIRFRAME VIBRATION ACCOMPANIED BY A FUEL FILTER CAUTION LIGHT, ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT AND HORN, AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. IN THE ENSUING AUTOROTATION, A HARD LANDING RESULTED IN THE MAIN ROTOR SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL FILTER BYPASS SWITCH WHICH PERMITTED AIR TO ENTER THE SUCTION-FED ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM. INSPECTION OF THE SWITCH DISCLOSED LEAKAGE BETWEEN THE MATING FLANGE HALVES DUE TO DETERIORATED SAFETY WIRING. THE LAST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON THE AIRCRAFT WAS PERFORMED 77 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,825 hours in all; 1,805 in this make and model; 218 in the last 90 days; 86 in the last 30 days; 2,825 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,270 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 26, 1995; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNM HI at 3:50 am
- Destination: OGG Kahilui HI
- Runway 8, 3,605 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 060° at 13 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from OGG, 24 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.