Bell 206B-III N789N
21 November 1992 · Hilo, Hawaii, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 21 November 1992 at about 21:15 local time, a Bell 206B-III registered N789N, operated by Paramount Pictures, was involved in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hilo, Hawaii, United States
- Coordinates
- 19.6894, -155.0797
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B-III
- Registration
- N789N
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Paramount Pictures
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Hilo → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX93LA050
People
3 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT IN AND NEAR A VOLCANIC GAS CLOUD WHICH INDUCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A LACK OF COMBUSTIBLE OXYGEN IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS EQUIPPED WITH 2 CAMERAS AND WAS DOING FILMING RUNS OF A VOLCANO VENT CRATER AND ITS ASSOCIATED SMOKE PLUME FOR A MOTION PICTURE. THE PILOT SAID THAT ON THE THIRD PASS OVER THE CRATER HE NOTICED THE MAIN ROTOR RPM DECREASING AND SAW THE ROTOR CAUTION LIGHT. HE SAID HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND INADVERTENTLY ENTERED THE VOLCANO SMOKE AND STEAM CLOUD. AFTER TURNING HE EXITED THE CLOUD AND AUTOROTATED TO THE CRATER BOTTOM. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE SHEAR ROCK WALL DURING THE FLARE AND SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER. TWO CAMERA OPERATORS ONBOARD SAID THE PILOT ANNOUNCED 'WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM' AS THEY ENTERED THE SMOKE CLOUD. BOTH WITNESSES SAID THEY DID NOT HEAR THE LOW ROTOR WARNING TONE AND PERCEIVED NO CHANGE IN ENGINE SOUND DURING THE EVENT. ONE SAID HE FELT 'SIDEWARD YAWING MOTIONS' DURING THE DESCENT. THE CAMERA OPERATORS SAID THAT AFTER THE HELICOPTER EMERGED FROM THE CLOUD NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE CRATER THE ROTOR STRUCK THE ROCK WALL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 206 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jan 1992 | Bell 206L-3 | E.i. Blk 108 | Industrial Helicopters Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Mar 1992 | Bell 206BIII | Glenbrook, Nevada, United States | Smith Helicopter, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Feb 1992 | Bell 206L-3 | South Pelto #1 | Petroleum Helicoters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 1992 | Bell 206B III | Grand Isle | Chevron USA Incorporated | No injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 1992 | Bell 206BIII | Kaaawa, Hawaii, United States | Hawaii Intl Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1992 | Bell 206B | Bessemer, Alabama, United States | Chem-Air Inc., | Fatal | 1 |
All 1,732 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Nov 1992 | Schweizer SGS 2-32 | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | Honolulu Soaring Club, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Dec 1992 | Hughes 369C | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | Mauna KEA Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 1992 | Hughes 269B | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Maui Wing and Rotor | No injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 1992 | Cessna 185F | Lanai, Hawaii, United States | Wings of Hope, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 30 May 1992 | Hughes 369D | Volcanoes Ntl P, Hawaii, United States | Mauna KEA Helicopters | No injuries | - |
| 22 Dec 1992 | Hughes 369D | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Mauna KEA Helicopters | No injuries | - |