# Accident 20161115021839A: Hughes 369D, Puko'O, HI, November 15, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 15, 2016, 18:30 local time
- Place: Puko'O, HI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 21.0997° N, 156.7922° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.0997&lon=-156.7922&mi=10
- Aircraft: N81GG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81GG-2017-08-29) (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
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250 SER 250HP
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 4,210 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR17FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA021) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161115021839A

## Narrative

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

THE HONOLULU FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FSDO) CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FATAL AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 15, 2016. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 17:45 LOCAL TIME AND FLEW TO MOLOKAI WITH A FINAL DESTINATION OF A PRIVATE RESIDENCE LOCATED ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE ISLAND OF MOLOKAI AT POSITION: N2105'21.6 W15647'21.0".

1756L: HUGHES AIRCRAFT N81GG, A 369D HELICOPTER, SERIAL #100634D OPERATED AND OWNED BY GARY GALIHER, DEPARTED HNL EN ROUTE HIS PRIVATE HELIPAD (POSITION N210521.6 W1564721.0) AT HIS RESIDENCE ON THE EAST COAST OF MOLOKAI AT POSITION: N210503.4 W1564708.2.  THE AIRCRAFT REQUESTED, AND WAS ASSIGNED THE SHORELINE 6 VFR DEPARTURE PROCEDURE WITH A SQUAWK CODE OF 0231.  N81GG WAS IDENTIFIED ON RADAR SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF.

1801: N81GG CLEARED CLASS B AIRSPACE ADJACENT DIAMOND HEAD AND PROCEEDED EAST BOUND AT 1500 FEET AGL ON A TRANSPONDER SQUAWK OF 1200.  N81GG DID NOT REQUEST FLIGHT FOLLOWING.

1818: ATC RADAR TRACKED N81GG TO THE SOUTHEAST POINT OF MOLOKAI AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1100 FEET PROCEEDING EASTBOUND ALONG THE SOUTH SHORE JUST OFF SHORE.  ATC VOICE DATA SHOWED THAT N81GG ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT MOLOKAI TOWER.  THE RADIO COMMUNICATION WAS BROKEN AND UNREADABLE TO TOWER CONTROL.

1819: N81GG MADE A SECOND ATTEMPT TO CONTACT MKK TOWER WITH NO RESULTS.

1822: N81GG DROPPED OFF ATC RADAR COVERAGE AT 800 FEET MSL.

1823: N81GG CONTACTS MKK TOWER WITH A REPORTED POSITION SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AT 700 FEET AND REQUESTED LOW LEVEL TRANSITION EAST BOUND.  MKK TOWER APPROVED EASTBOUND TRANSITION.   THIS WAS THE LAST RECORDED VOICE DATA FROM N81GG.

11/16/16, 1115: AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE FITTING THE DESCRIPTION OF N81GG, HAD BEEN LOCATED BY A MAUI COUNTY FIRE DEPT HELICOPTER LESS THAN A MILE NORTHEAST OF ACCIDENT AIRCRAFTS HELIPAD.

1500: THE ROC CONFIRMED THE ACCIDENT.  MAUI COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT DELIVERED A FIRE FIGHTER TO THE SCENE BY HELICOPTER.  BOTH SOLES ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT WERE CONFIRMED DECEASED.

## 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 WPR17FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17FA021), Nov 16, 2016: Hughes 369 (N81GG), Pukoo, HI, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to continue visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions at night in rain, which resulted in his geographic disorientation and controlled flight into…

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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