What happened
On March 26, 2026, at approximately 15:39 Hawaii standard time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, registration N715KV, crashed into the water near Haena, Hawaii. The aircraft was operating as a Part 135 revenue sightseeing flight, departing from Lihue Airport (LIH) for its final scheduled tour of the day.
While flying near Kalalau Beach, the pilot initiated a left turn away from the shoreline. During this maneuver, the pilot reported experiencing waves of high-frequency vibration throughout the aircraft. This was followed by an uncommanded right yaw that the pilot could not correct using the left anti-torque pedal. The helicopter began rotating clockwise for approximately two full rotations.
In response to the uncontrolled rotation, the pilot entered an autorotation, reducing the throttle to idle and attempting to increase airspeed for directional control. Although the spinning ceased during the autorotation, the pilot was unable to reach the beach. The helicopter impacted the water approximately 75 yards from the shoreline, rolled onto its right side, and became partially submerged. The accident resulted in 3 fatal and 2 serious injuries.