1 Person died and 2 are missing after a tourist chopper crashes off the island of Kauai in Hawaii
According to authorities, the most recent in a string of incidents that have beset the tour sector in recent years was a tour operator helicopter that crashed off the Hawaiian island of Kauai, killing one person and leaving two more missing.
According to officials, a hiker on the Kalalau route reported watching the helicopter crash into the water on Thursday afternoon, around 0.4 kilometers (or a quarter of a mile) off the coast of Na Pali. The hiker then called the fire department.
According to officials, Ali’i Kauai Air Tours & Charters operated the Robinson R44 helicopter.
The company boasts over thirty years of flying experience and describes itself as the only Hawaiian family-owned and operated aviation tour company on Kauai. It provides private helicopter or aircraft tours.
At a press conference on Friday, Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck stated, “Preliminary information indicates that the pilot on board was a local resident, and the two passengers on board are believed to be visitors from the mainland.” The identities of the authorities were not disclosed.
One body was pulled from the sea by Kauai lifeguards on their personal watercraft on Thursday. According to Kauai Fire Chief Michael Gibson, they also noticed some little bits of floating debris and what looked to be an oil slick on the ocean.
On Friday, the Kauai crews and the U.S. Coast Guard carried on their search for the two individuals in the water.
Gibson stated, “We do not believe the weather was a concern,” citing winds of between 15 and 25 mph, light clouds, and sporadic showers as typical conditions for the time of year.
A probe will be conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board. An NTSB inspector will start recording the scene and inspecting the aircraft as soon as it is recovered, the agency announced on Friday. After that, the aircraft will be recovered to a safe location for additional assessment.
In response to several deadly incidents, the Federal Aviation Administration launched a new procedure last year that allows flying tour companies in Hawaii to obtain permission to fly at lower altitudes.
Tour companies are only allowed to fly at 1,500 feet (460 meters) unless they obtain permission to descend lower. Before granting approval, the FAA promised to examine the safety plan submitted by each operator.
Following three fatal crashes in 2019, one of which claimed the lives of a pilot and six passengers on the Na Pali Coast, the action was taken. The pilot’s choice to continue flying in poor weather was cited by the NTSB as the cause of the tragedy.
Eleven people perished when their skydiving plane crashed on Oahu’s North Shore after takeoff, while three individuals perished in a tour helicopter incident in a neighborhood of Honolulu. Federal authorities attributed the pilot’s forceful takeoff as the cause of the disaster.
In June 2022, while on a sunset tour, another helicopter crashed into a distant lava field on the Big Island, wounding six persons.
Texas-based aviation lawyer and helicopter pilot Ladd Sanger has flown a helicopter over Kauai and handled lawsuits involving air tour crashes in Hawaii.
According to him, the most recent accident demonstrates that it is not a good idea to fly single-engine helicopters over Hawaii, particularly off the rocky shore of Kauai.
“There will probably be a terrible outcome if there is an engine problem on Kauai,” he stated. “There are very few places to land a helicopter on this rough island.”
According to him, a Robinson R44 is also more vulnerable to Hawaii’s frequently shifting climate.
“Kauai is breathtaking, and the only way to truly appreciate its beauty is from a helicopter,” he remarked. “But the appropriate helicopter is required.”
Due to their higher cost, twin-engine turbine helicopters are not used by many Hawaii tour operators, according to Sanger.
In a statement, Robinson Helicopter Company president and CEO David Smith said, “Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those affected.” “Our top priority is safety, and we are fully collaborating with all investigating authorities to fully comprehend the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
According to the firm, Robinson helicopters, which include the R44 model, “have a proven track record of safe operation across diverse and challenging environments, from the tropical climate of Hawaii to the mountainous terrain of Switzerland.” Since the 1980s, Robinson helicopters have been safely operating in Hawaii; some operators have flown up to 16,000 hours year without any incidents.
State Representative Nadine Nakamura of Hawaii, whose Kauai district includes the Na Pali Coast, stated that although the federal government is usually in charge of aviation safety regulations, legislators in Hawaii have attempted to subtly increase the safety of helicopter excursions.
However, she added, a law that attempted to expand aviation liability insurance during the previous session did not reach the governor’s desk.
She mentioned that a number of factors, such as bad weather and mechanical difficulties, have contributed to collisions in the past.
“And that’s what guests need to consider — that accidents have happened before,” she stated. “People have to weigh the risks against their desire to see far-off and exotic places from an absolutely breathtaking vantage point.” (Source)