...San Internet ...cerca per noi
Several different pilots were used in the show, including Marc Wolff, Steve Kux (also Aerial Coordinator) and J. David Jones (also Aerial Coordinator). Steve Kux logged the most flight time on the show. On May 13th, 1988, two weeks after the series finale aired, Steve Kux was seriously injured after crashing a 369D (N4943T) into a drainage ditch in Waialua. Steve was pinned in the cockpit, and partially under water, when local Hawaiian "Tiny" Amarel heroically lifted up the front end of the chopper so he could be pulled out! The incident was dramatically caught on film and can be seen in several outlets, including the Discovery Channel's Destroyed in Seconds TV show. Steve recovered from the crash, but he lost the use of his left arm and had to retire from flying. The NTSB report can be found here. N4943T was used in several episodes of Magnum P.I., including "The People vs. Orville Wright" (7.21) & "The Love That Lies" (8.6).
NTSB Identification: LAX88LA179 .
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 39071.
Accident occurred Friday, May 13, 1988 in WAIALUA, HI
Probable Cause Approval Date: 7/9/1990
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas 369D, registration: N4943T
Injuries: 1 Serious.
THE HELICOPTER WAS RETURNING TO ITS LONG LINE PICKUP POINT FOR ANOTHER LOAD WHEN IT ENTERED AN UNCOMMANDED LEFT ROLL. THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER, RELEASED THE LONG LINE CABLE AND ENTERED A SHALLOW, SLOW APPROACH TO A HOVER IN A VACANT AREA. AS THE SKIDS NEARED THE GROUND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED LEFT TO AN ANGLE OF 45 DEGREES, BEGAN TO CLIMB, THEN CRASHED INTO AN IRRIGATION DITCH. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED METAL PARTICLES CONTAMINATING
THE TRIM ACTUATOR SWITCH. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE HELICOPTER IS CONTROLLABLE WITH A MALFUNCTIONING TRIM SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE CIRCUIT BRAKERS SHOULD BE PULLED. THE PILOT STATED HE RESET THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE MANUFACTURE FOR UNCOMMANDED TRIM INPUTS AND HIS DECISION TO MAKE A HOVER APPROACH TO LANDING.
