# Accident 20011009031389A: Hughes 369D, Kahoolawe, HI, October 9, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 9, 2001, 17:00 local time
- Place: Kahoolawe, HI
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: WVXA
- Location: 20.8790° N, 156.4991° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.8790&lon=-156.4991&mi=10
- Aircraft: N622WA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N622WA-2004-03-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 250HP (registry code 03002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA007) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011009031389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AFTER LANDING AND DROPPING OFF THREE PASSENGERS ON THE ISLAND OF KAHOOLAWE, THE PILOT RECEIVED AN ALL CLEAR THUMBS UP SIGNAL FROM THE TWO PASSENGERS TO THE LEFT OF THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT THEN ROSE TO A HOVER TO REPOSITION FOR REFUELING. THE THIRD PASSENGER WHO HAD EXITED TO THE RIGHT REAR, WAS ATTEMTPING TO RETURN TO THE HELICOPTER TO RETRIEVE PERSONAL ARTICLES LEFT ABOARD WHEN THE HELICOPTER ROSE TO A HOVER. THE RETURNING PASSENGER FELL FROM THE SKID OF THE HELICOPTER WHEN IT ROSE TO A HOVER BREAKING BOTH WRISTS. (.19) ON OCTOBER 9, 2001, AT 1700 HAWAIIAN STANDARD TIME, A HUGHES 369D HELICOPTER, N622WA, WAS INVOLVED IN A PASSENGER INJURY ACCIDENT DURING TAKEOFF FROM AN INDUSTRIAL LANDING ZONE ON KAHOOLAWE ISLAND, HAWAII. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE SOLE PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR PART 135 BY WINDWARD AVIATION, INC. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL AREA FLIGHT, WHICH WAS SHUTTLING WORKERS BETWEEN SITES ON THE ISLAND. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE HEL                                                                       ICOPTER LANDED AND DEPLANED THREE PASSENGERS WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AND ROTORS TURNING. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS THEN GAVE THE PILOT A "THUMBS UP" TO SIGNIFY THEY WERE CLEAR OF THE HELICOPTER AND HE COULD TAKE OFF. HOWEVER, ANOTHER OF THE PASSENGERS REALIZED HE HAD LEFT AN ITEM OF PROPERTY ABOARD THE HELICOPTER AND ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE IT. UNBEKNOWNST TO THE PILOT, THE PASSENGER WAS REACHING INTO THE HELICOPTER AS THE PILOT LIFTED OFF FOR DEPARTURE AND THE PASSENGER FELL TO THE GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX02LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA007), Oct 10, 2001: Hughes 369D (N622WA), Kahoolawe Isle, HI, no damage. Probable cause: Inadequate visual surveillance by the pilot before takeoff resulting in liftoff with a deplaning passenger still partially aboard the helicopter. A factor in the accident was the operator's…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.