| Crash location | 21.255833°N, 157.806944°W |
| Nearest city | Honolulu, HI
21.306944°N, 157.858333°W 4.8 miles away |
| Tail number | N5232G |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 02 Sep 2016 |
| Aircraft type | Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500 |
| Additional details: | None |
On September 2, 2016, about 0945 Hawaii Standard Time, a McDonnell Douglas 500N helicopter, N5232G, was in an initial climb after rescuing a hiker and firefighter from the Diamond Head state trail in Honolulu, Hawaii, when the firefighter fell from the rescue net. Two crew members and one passenger were uninjured, and one crew member sustained serious injuries. The helicopter sustained no damage. The helicopter was registered to, and operated by the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, as a public use flight operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed about the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from the Honolulu International Airport (HNL) about 0935.
The operator reported that the pilot flew the helicopter from the airport to pick up an injured hiker and a firefighter from a nearby trail. A net that was attached to an approximate 75 foot line was lowered, and the hiker and firefighter climbed in. As the helicopter was flying away from the site, the firefighter fell from the net and impacted the ground about 25 feet below.
Video evidence revealed the net struck a pole just prior to the firefighter falling from the net.