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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 20, 1985 · Bell 206-L1 · N478KA

Kailua/Kona, HI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 20, 1985
Injury Outcomes
7 injuries (7 minor injuries)
Location
Kailua/Kona, HI
Aircraft
Bell 206-L1
Tail Number
N478KA
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX85FA217

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 approximately 200 ft AGL and 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, and rolled over to the left. Both the flight controls and the engine functioned to touchdown. Tests disclosed no discrepancies in the fuel system. The height-velocity diagram has only been tested to a density altitude of 10,000 ft. The accident occurred at a density altitude of 15,500 ft. It does not apply above a density altitude of 5,400 ft at a gross weight of 3,600 lbs, the estimated weight of the helicopter at the accident site.

Full Narrative

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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:20 HST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 206-L1
Tail NumberN478KA
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsAllison · 250-C28B · Turboshaft · 500
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary7 injuries (7 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor7
Uninjured0
Total7
Crew 1Age 37 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 5 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data