# Accident 20070311003129A: Hughes 369FF, Haena, HI, March 11, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 11, 2007, 12:59 local time
- Place: Haena, HI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: FNHA
- Location: 20.7702° N, 155.9893° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.7702&lon=-155.9893&mi=10
- Aircraft: N911VC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N911VC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes 269B (registry code 4470502, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369FF
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,041 total, 188 in this make and model, 248 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI07MA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07MA083) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070311003129A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MARCH 11, 2007, AT 1259 HAWAIIAN STANDARD TIME, A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS 369FF HELICOPTER, N911VC, OPERATED BY SMOKY MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS AND DOING BUSINESS AS INTER-ISLAND HELICOPTERS INC., WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT WITH TREES AND TERRAIN IN THE TOWN OF HAENA ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI, HAWAII, DURING A PART 135 COMMERCIAL AIR TOUR FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM THE PORT ALLEN AIRPORT (PAK), HANAPEPE, HAWAII, ON A 55-MINUTE SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF KAUAI. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT NEAR TUNNEL BEACH IN HAENA, THE TAIL ROTOR OUTPUT SHAFT AND THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES SEPARATED FROM THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX AND FELL INTO THE OCEAN. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION TO A YMCA CAMPGROUND THAT WAS LOCATED NEXT TO THE BEACH. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED; HOWEVER, THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS KILLED, AND THE THREE OTHER PASSENGERS RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A COMPANY FLIGHT PLAN WAS IN EFFECT.

## 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 CHI07MA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07MA083), Mar 11, 2007: McDonnell Douglas 369FF (N911VC), Haena, HI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of the tail rotor blade root fitting due to a manufacturing defect which resulted in the separation of the tail rotor system and loss of tail rotor control. A contributing factor…

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.

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