Cessna TU206 accident near Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, July 3, 2019
On July 3, 2019 at about 8:35 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna TU206, registered N150SC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 4 connecting rod crankshaft end and cap.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2019 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Waikoloa Village, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206 F, built 1973 · all TU206s on the register
- Registration
- N150SC · registry record · serial U20601958
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After flying for about 3 hours conducting aerial survey work, the pilot noticed a low oil pressure indication in the cockpit. The pilot prepared for a landing at the destination airport. During the approach he heard a bang and the airplane started to shake. He pitched the airplane to maintain the best glide speed and noticed the engine had lost all oil pressure. The pilot prepared for a forced landing to a road, during which the right wing struck a road sign, and the airplane came to rest in a ditch. Examination of the engine revealed the No. 4 connecting rod crankshaft end and cap separated from the rod and the bolts were sheared. One of the nuts for the connecting rod cap bolts was split and both pieces were recovered. Signatures of high heat on the piston end of all the connecting rods was also noted. The high heat signatures were consistent with a lack of oil lubrication (and subsequent cooling during operation) for the connecting rods at the crankshaft. The lack of lubrication likely caused the failure of the No. 4 connecting rod crankshaft end and cap, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. The reason for the lack of lubrication could not be determined from available information.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,185 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,123 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 9, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,736.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2019
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors Inc. TSIO-520-M (piston); 2,971 hours total
- Operator: Aerial Imaging Inc
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 4:40 pm
- Destination: HKO Waikoloa Village HI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PHKO, 17 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
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR19LA185.