Tour helicoptor down, Hilo Hawaii

[Hokulea]

For anyone interested - helicoptor down near Hilo (ITO). Initial news was on this site - Helicopter makes hard landing near Hilo Airport - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/22936073/developing-helicopter-makes-hard-landing-near-hilo-airport) and local media are saying it was an autorotation after engine failure. According to other media reports the pilot informed ATC that he had engine failure but the passengers have said he ran out of fuel. I'm not a pilot, just reporting this in case anyone is interested. There were no serious injuries.

[Harry O]

Looks fairly intact. Lets hope they all walked away okay.
http://khnl.images.worldnow.com/images/22936073_BG3.jpg

[Hokulea]

They all walked away. One passenger had a scrape to their knee, that was it.

[Hughes500]

that's written off a nice airframe then, careless if ran out of fuel !

[nomorehelosforme]

What type of aircraft was it, didn't want to guess!

[Harry O]

Type is an MD500, or a Hughes500 as it used to be known.
Cockpit looks robust considering its on its side.

This pic was also on the crash site set of pics for some reason, not sure if its the punters asking for a refund ;)

http://khnl.images.worldnow.com/images/22936073_BG5.jpg

[Arm out the window]

"You can have the standard package, or for a few dollars extra the deluxe with reserve fuel."

[Nigel Osborn]

Looks a nice flat field for an EOL.

[topendtorque]

Don't know whether there is a set of scales that are activated by the pax, that would be used by the booking staff, but appearances of the punters leads one to think could be you might need a well tuned turbo charger in that there 500 to get enough go to get up up and away.

[SASless]

Hey.....it is supposed to be an exciting flight....remember?

[Overdrive]

Looking at their website and the "hard landing" photos that appears to be their doors-off flight bird, which will have been doubly exciting in the latter stages. I guess they all had their harnesses on good & tight.

[Hughes500]

Topend

Average E model weighs 1660 lbs max take off weight is 3000 lbs thus with 1 hours fuel ( say 200lbs) 1860 lbs so payload 1140lbs if pilot is 180 lbs then there is 960lbs of pax That's quite a lot of fat pax !