# Incident 20130912022649I: Md Helicopters Inc 369E, Waimea, HI, September 12, 2013

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2013, 08:50 local time
- Place: Waimea, HI
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: DCGA
- Aircraft: N808JH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N808JH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: MD Helicopters 369E (registry code 3030008, https://openairdocs.org/model/md-helicopters-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 (registry code 54178, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MD HELICOPTERS INC 369E
- Reported engine: ROLLS-ROYC 250-C20
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130912022649I

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2013, N808JH WAS ENROUTE ON A 60 MINUTE TOUR FLIGHT THAT HAD DEPARTED FROM LIHUE AIRPORT AT 0830 HST. THE HELICOPTER HAD JUST ENTERED THE WAIMEA CANYON FROM THE SOUTHEAST AND WAS HEADING TOWARD WAIALAI FALLS AT APPROXIMATELY 1500? AGL AND AT A SPEED OF 80 KNOTS.

THE PILOT HEARD A RADIO CALL FROM ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT WAS ENTERING THE CANYON FROM THE SOUTH AND THE PILOT LOOKED IN THAT DIRECTION TO VERIFY THE LOCATION OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER, AS HE STARTED TO LOOK BACK IN DIRECTION OF HIS FLIGHT, A BIRD STRUCK THE RIGHT CENTER WINDSCREEN OF THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT DID NOT SEE THE BIRD BEFORE IT STRUCK THE WINDOW.

THE BIRD AND A PORTION OF THE WINDSCREEN ENTERED THE CABIN AND STRUCK THE FRONT CENTER PASSENGER IN THE FACE. A PIECE OF FRAGMENT ALSO FLEW INTO THE REAR OF THE HELICOPTER AND STRUCK THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER ON THE FINGER.

PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS SUITABLE TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT, AND FLEW TO PORT ALLEN AIRPORT (PAK), WHERE HE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE TWO PASSENGERS THAT WERE STRUCK WERE TREATED FOR MINOR INJURIES AND RELEASED FROM THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. THE OTHER TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED.

MAINTENANCE INSPECTED THE HELICOPTER AND FOUND THE FRONT RIGHT CENTER WINDSCREEN SHATTERED WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER. THE WINDSCREEN WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED AT PORT ALLEN AIRPORT.  THE HELICOPTER WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.

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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