- Date
- December 12, 1988, 12:48 local (22:48 UTC)
- Place
- Hanalei, HI
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7733HHughes 369E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 4, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19881212054089A
- Case key
- 26308
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
During a local sightseeing flight, the pilot reported that he heard a muffled bang and simultaneously the engine out warning lights and audio alarm activated. The pilot initiated a forced landing on the beach which resulted in the helicopter nosing over. An engine exam revealed that the gas generator turbine had failed. The evidence indicated that the failure was due to constant turbine overtemperatures. The exhaust temperature probe system was tested and showed consistent readings 50 to 100 degrees lower than the actual temp. Additionally, the lightoff fuel flow was excessive due to the improper setting of the start/accelerator schedule adjuster. Maintenance records did not indicate a recent exhaust temp check.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7733H
- Reported as
- Hughes 369E
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0168E
- Airframe hours
- 5,666
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 375 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Kauai Helicopter
- Registered owner
- Kauai Helicopter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Unknown · November 18, 1988 · 92 hours before
- Departed
- Lihue, HI
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,673 total · 693 in this make and model · 360 in the last 90 days · 115 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.