- Date
- March 25, 1994, 14:50 local (Mar 26, 1994, 00:50 UTC)
- Place
- Hi. Nat'L Park, HI
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N113RSHughes 369D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940325006579A
- Case key
- 28705
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's in-flight decision to maneuver the helicopter close to an active volcano steam vent which resulted in a whiteout condition from the steam, and the pilot's subsequent loss of visual contact with the ground.
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
The pilot encountered a steam cloud while hovering and collided with mountainous terrain near a volcano vent. The pilot lost visual contact with the ground while at a 5-foot hover after being enveloped by the steam cloud. The pilot attempted to regain visual contact with the ground by descending. During the descent, the helicopter's left skid struck a rock. The helicopter rolled right and struck the ground.
Factual narrative
On March 25, 1994, about 1450 hours Hawaii standard time, a Hughes 369D, N113RS, encountered a steam cloud while hovering and collided with mountainous terrain by the Pu'uoo Vent in the Hawaii National Park, Hawaii. The pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules air taxi flight under 14 CFR 135. The helicopter, operated by Mauna Kea Helicopters, Inc., Hilo, Hawaii, was substantially damaged. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Hilo, Hawaii, at 1415 hours.
The pilot indicated he lost visual contact with the ground while at a 5-foot hover after being enveloped by the steam cloud. The pilot attempted to regain visual contact with the ground by descending. During the descent, the helicopter's left skid struck a rock. The helicopter rolled right and struck the ground.
The passenger told park rangers that the helicopter became enveloped in a steam cloud while at a 40-foot hover. The pilot lost control and the helicopter collided with terrain. Access to the helicopter was thwarted by sulfuric fumes from the steam. The pilot and passenger walked about 2 miles before being picked up by a rescue helicopter.
The pilot also indicated in his accident report that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter before the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N113RS
- Reported as
- Hughes 369D
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 590506D
- Airframe hours
- 8,133
- Engine
- Allison C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Mauna Kea Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Mauna Kea Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 8, 1994 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- ITO · Hilo, 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
- 36
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,025 total · 3,009 in this make and model · 4,525 as pilot in command · 139 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ITO, 24 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N113RS · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.