However, during testing two accidents due to structural defects he suffered from severe injuries to his left hand, causing the loss of a finger.

In 1909, Hino joined Yoshitoshi Tokugawa in France to study aeronautical engineering and military applications for the use of aircraft in combat.

Tokugawa and Hino promoted the new technology to the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff and helped establish the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service, with Tokugawa going on to receive accolades and promotion and Hino working in obscurity attempting to develop a domestic aircraft design and aircraft engine.

Hino was promoted to major in 1911, but was immediately demoted to a lower position of authority over his failure to produce a successful aircraft, mounting debts, and an embarrassing situation in which he forgot about a scheduled visit by a member of the Imperial family, Prince Takehiko Yamashina to view aircraft development.

In 1916, he was transferred to the Koishikawa Arsenal and in 1918 was promoted to lieutenant colonel on taking voluntary retirement as responsibility for a subordinate's blunder.