Hughes 369 accident near Honiara, PO, December 28, 2008
On December 28, 2008 at about 5:45 am local time, a Hughes 369 (helicopter), registered N104BN, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Honiara, PO. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to remove the tail rotor pedal lock before attempting flight, resulting in a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2008 · about 5:45 am local time
- Place
- Honiara, PO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369 A · all 369s on the register
- Registration
- N104BN · registry record · serial 591148
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was being operated from a fishing vessel in open ocean waters. A witness, who was the mechanic for the helicopter, reported that the pilot forgot to remove the tail rotor pedal lock before takeoff. The helicopter lifted off and began to spin. The mechanic saw the pilot "trying to grab the pedal lock;" however, the pilot was unsuccessful. The helicopter impacted the water, the fixed floats separated, and the helicopter sank.
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
What happened, in order
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Rotorcraft flight control › Tail rotor control system › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 16, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Oceanside Helicopters Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Honiara at 10:00 pm
- Destination: Honiara
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.