# NTSB LAX82DA330: Bell 206-L, N59358, Lihue, HI, September 3, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1982, 15:15 local (Sep 3, 1982, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Lihue, HI
- Coordinates: 22.200582, -159.49913 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=22.2006&lon=-159.4991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 2, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71428
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82DA330
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71428/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA330

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - object - tree(s)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, landing

## Analysis

DURING A SIGHTSEEING TRIP TO THE WEST SIDE OF KAPALAOA RIDGE AREA NEAR PUNHAM CRATER, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A DOWNDRAFT AND THEN A SEVERE UPDRAFT THAT PUT HIM IN IFR CONDITIONS IN THE CLOUDS. THE HELICOPTER IS NOT EQUIPPED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT AND THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANUEVER THE AIRCRAFT OUT OF THE CLOUDS TO REGAIN VISUAL REFERENCES. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N59358 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206-L
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45070
- Airframe hours: 4555
- Engines: ALLISON C20-B 420 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Papillon Helicopters Limited
- Registered owner: Papillon Helicopters Limited
- Departed: LIH, LIHUE, HI
- Destination: LIH, LIHUE, HI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,694 total, 174 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 174 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 158 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820902043449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820902043449A), Sep 2, 1982: Bell 206L, Lihue, HI, Substantial damage. Flew over mountain ridge with clouds 300 feet above. Put into clouds by updraft, lost control, hit side of mountain

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.

---
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.