On October 10, 2001, a Hughes 369D (registration N622WA) was involved in an aviation accident near Kahoolawe Isle, HI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Inadequate visual surveillance by the pilot before takeoff resulting in liftoff with a deplaning passenger still partially aboard the helicopter. A factor in the accident was the operator's inadequate procedures. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A passenger re-securing a seatbelt as the helicopter lifted off was lifted onto the landing gear strut and fell to the ground. The pilot and passengers gave conflicting reports about a hand signal.
Incident Details
A helicopter had landed and three passengers deplaned while the engine was operating and rotors were turning. Two of those passengers walked away from the front of the helicopter. As the pilot began to lift off, a passenger who was still deplaning was reaching back into the helicopter to re-secure a seatbelt. The passenger was lifted off the ground while straddling the right-hand landing gear strut and subsequently fell to the ground.
Conflicting Reports
After the incident, discrepancies emerged regarding communication. The pilot reported that the two passengers who had walked away gave a thumbs-up signal, indicating that the area was clear and departure could proceed. However, those passengers stated they did not give such a signal.