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| Date: | Tuesday 14 February 2023 |
| Time: | 08:00 |
| Type: |  Cessna P337H Pressurized Skymaster |
| Owner/operator: | Big Island Air |
| Registration: | N5KR |
| MSN: | P3370335 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Kona-Keahole Airport (KOA/PHKO), Kona, HI -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Kona-Keahole Airport, HI (KOA/PHKO) |
| Kona-Keahole Airport, HI (KOA/PHKO) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On February 14, 2023, about 0800 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, a Cessna C337H airplane, N5KR, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in Kona, Hawaii. The pilot had minor injuries and four passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 sightseeing flight.
The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection and engine run-up, he noted no anomalies with the airplane. Then, on departure, the airplane lost partial power. The pilot performed an emergency landing to the runway overrun area with the landing gear retracted, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
Postaccident examination of the engines revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. During the examination the rear engine started normally, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption.
Review of recorded engine monitoring data revealed that the rear engine lost total engine power during the engine run-up. Although the reason for the rear engine’s total loss of power during the engine run-up could not be determined, the pilot should have recognized that the rear engine was not operating during the takeoff roll and aborted the takeoff. Placards on the instrument panel and the owner’s manual stated, “Do not initiate single engine take-off,” The continuation of the takeoff in this condition resulted in the airplane’s inability to climb and its subsequent descent and impact with terrain.
Probable Cause: The failure of the pilot to recognize that the rear engine was not operating during takeoff, which resulted in an attempted single-engine takeoff and the airplane’s subsequent descent and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was a loss of rear engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://bigislandnow.com/2023/02/14/faa-investigating-aborted-takeoff-at-kona-airport-that-caused-abrasions-to-pilot/
https://www.kitv.com/news/local/pilot-suffers-minor-injury-following-aborted-takeoff-at-kona-airport/article_c3175196-aca6-11ed-a012-2be69dbed45a.html
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/02/14/breaking-news/no-serious-injuries-after-cessna-crashes-at-kona-airport/
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106742
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=5KR
https://www.bigislandair.com/aircraft.php
https://media.tacdn.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-674x446/08/ad/e8/41.jpg (photo)
Location
Images:
Photo: FAA
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Jun-2023 10:12 | Ron Averes | Updated |
| 16-Jul-2024 16:49 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, ] |
| 01-Aug-2024 20:28 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Location, Source, Narrative, Accident report, Photo, ] |
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