Eurocopter EC130 accident near Hilo, Hawaii, August 19, 2018
On August 19, 2018 at about 11:20 pm local time, a 2009 Eurocopter EC130 (helicopter), registered N11QP, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Hilo, Hawaii (Hilo Intl airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the left sliding door in flight after it opened for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in damage to the main rotor blades.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2018 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hilo, Hawaii · Hilo Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter EC130 B4, built 2009 · all EC130s on the register
- Registration
- N11QP · registry record · serial 4715
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, before departing, he conducted a walk-around inspection of the helicopter, during which he visually checked to ensure all the doors and cowlings were closed and secured. The pilot departed on the flight with the maintenance apprentice, who was seated in the right front seat. While the flight was en route back to the airport, the left-rear sliding door suddenly slid open, separated from the helicopter, and struck two of the three main rotor blades. The pilot performed a precautionary landing to a field. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to two main rotor blades. The helicopter’s left sliding door tracks and door latch assemblies were normal and unremarkable. The plastic latch on the fuselage which supports the sliding rear door when opened was damaged, and a portion had separated from the fuselage. The sliding door fell into the ocean and was not recovered, thereby preventing examination of the door and its locking components. After the accident, Airbus Helicopters published an alert service bulletin requiring a mandatory spring-scale check on all sliding door-equipped EC-130 B4 helicopters to ensure correct operation of the sliding door locking system.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Passenger/crew doors › Not specified
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,014 hours in all; 2,122 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 9,868 as pilot in command; 2,823 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 30, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,211.2 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 15, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 5,350 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Safran Arriel (turboshaft); 17,856 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ITO Hilo HI at 11:10 pm
- Destination: ITO Hilo HI
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 10:20 pm from PHTO, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Alert Service Bulletin EC130-05A031 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.