Bell 206BIII accident near Kamuela, Hawaii, February 1, 1996
On February 1, 1996 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Bell 206BIII (helicopter), registered N90194, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kamuela, Hawaii (Waimea-Kohala airport). It was a positioning 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
failure of the nose case (No.1) bearing resulting in oil starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 1996 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Kamuela, Hawaii · Waimea-Kohala · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206BIII · all 206BIIIs on the register
- Registration
- N90194 · no longer on the register · serial 1697
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot experienced two engine chip warning light illuminations while conducting local air tours. After the second warning light illumination, the operator instructed the pilot to ferry the helicopter to the company's maintenance base. The engine sustained a total loss of power while en route to the maintenance facility and the pilot executed an emergency landing. The helicopter sustained a hard landing. The engine examination disclosed that the nose case (No. 1) bearing failed and the engine sustained a catastrophic failure due to oil starvation.
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: 9,984 hours in all; 5,714 in this make and model; 183 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 9,230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,094 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 20, 1996; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IT0 Hilo HI at 10:05 pm
- Destination: MUE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.