Bell 430 accident near Kailua, Hawaii, October 27, 2018
On October 27, 2018 at about 9:04 pm local time, a 2000 Bell 430 (helicopter), registered N430ST, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Kailua, Hawaii (Ellison Onizuka Kona Intl At K airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of one of the tail rotors blades’ root enclosures due to improper repair.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2018 · about 9:04 pm local time
- Place
- Kailua, Hawaii · Ellison Onizuka Kona Intl At K · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 430 No Series, built 2000 · all 430s on the register
- Registration
- N430ST · registry record · serial 49071
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the sightseeing helicopter flight reported that he experienced a loud thump immediately followed by vibration and that he chose to conduct a precautionary landing at a nearby airport. Postaccident examination of the tail rotor components revealed that one of the tail rotor blades’ root enclosures, along with its associated weights and attachment bolts, had separated. The other tail rotor blade sustained a 6-inch-long dent about mid-span when the root enclosure separated. About 200 flight hours before the accident, the subject tail rotor blade was removed from service due to a delamination of the root enclosure at the root block and a repair was made of the blade’s root enclosure area. Scratches were observed on the root block around the edge of one of the tail rotor blades’ root enclosure areas, consistent with surface preparation for the repair. However, while the surface preparation with the scratches created an appropriate bonding surface, the adhesive did not properly bond to the remaining area of the faying surface due to corrosion. Additionally, no adhesive was applied into the gap between the root enclosure and root block. This action would require the surface in that area to be prepped for the application of the adhesive, and no evidence of such preparation was observed. The surface of the root block to where the enclosure was bonded was corroded with paths of oxidation extending outboard, consistent with trapped moisture between the adhesive and the enclosure, which eventually resulted in the enclosure separating from the root block.
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 (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Tail rotor › Tail rotor blade › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,653.1 hours in all; 136.7 in this make and model; 77.7 in the last 90 days; 9.4 in the last 30 days; 4,551.9 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,629 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 3, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Rolls Royce 250-C40B (turboshaft); 6,664 hours total
- Engine 2: Rolls Royce 250-C40B (turboshaft); 6,496 hours total
- Operator: K & S Helicopters INC
The flight
- Departed from: Wailea HI at 8:38 pm
- Destination: ITO Hilo HI
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PHKO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 16, 2022. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Tail Rotor Examination Report | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Historical Service Record | PDF, 1 page | 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.