- Date
- April 20, 1985, 09:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place
- Kailua/Kona, HI
- Injuries
- 7 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N478KABell 206-L1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850420077509A
- Case key
- 24496
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A revenue sight-seeing helicopter flight operating under 14 CFR 91 collided with lava rock while attempting a forced landing on the summit of muana loa volcano after a partial loss of power. The pilot stated that while in a shallow downwind turn at aprx 200 ft AGL & an airspeed of about 40 mph, the helicopter began to settle while he continued to add power. The aircraft was too low to increase airspeed. After hitting the lava rock, the helicopter skidded 12 feet, turned to the right, & rolled over to the left. Both the flt controls & the eng functioned to touchdown. Tests disclosed no discrepancies in the fuel system. The height-velocity diagram has only been tested to a density alt of 10,000 ft. the accident occurred at a density alt of 15,500 ft. it does not apply above a density alt of 5,400 ft at a gross weight of 3,600 lbs, the estimated weight of the helicopter at the accident site.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N478KA
- Reported as
- Bell 206-L1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45179
- Airframe hours
- 7,267
- Engine
- Allison 250-C28B, 500 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kanai Heliocpter'S Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 16, 1985 · 19 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Kailua/Kona, HI
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 9,021 total · 18 in this make and model · 7,986 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.