Bell 206B N90153

Summary

On 29 March 1987 at about 23:27 local time, a Bell 206B registered N90153, operated by Kona Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Kona, Hawaii, United States. 5 people were on board and one died, 3 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

29 March 1987 at 23:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Kona, Hawaii, United States

Coordinates

19.6309, -155.9904

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N90153

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Kona Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ke-Ahole → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX87LA161

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT PICKED UP TWO OF THE PASSENGERS AT A RESORT HOTEL AND THEN FLEW TO KAILUA-KONA AIRPORT (KOA). AFTER HOT REFUELING THE HELICOPTER WITH THE TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD, TWO MORE PASSENGERS BOARDED THE HELICOPTER AND THEN THE FLIGHT DEPARTED KOA. WHEN THE FLIGHT EXITED WAIMANU VALLEY OVER THE BEACH THE PILOT OBSERVED ANOTHER COMPANY HELICOPTER. AFTER ESTABLISHING RADIO COMM WITH THE OTHER HELICOPTER THE PILOT ALTERED HIS COURSE TO THE WEST BEYOND THE SHORELINE AT 200 FEET AGL. THE WESTERLY COURSE EXTENDED ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE SHORELINE. THE HELICOPTER'S ENGINE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION INTO THE OCEAN. THE HELICOPTER SANK, BUT ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS EXITED. THE PAX WERE NOT WEARING LIFE VESTS AND ONE PAX DROWNED. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT EQUIPED WITH ANY OF THE REQUIRED FLOTATION DEVICES. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT RECOVERED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.