Hawaii tour helicopter crash kills 4 (now incl photographs)
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Hawaii tour helicopter crash kills 4 (now incl photographs)
http://www.mercurynews.com/nationworld/ci_5389743
Astar&Hyd.
PRINCEVILLE, Hawaii- A tour helicopter crashed at an airport on the island of Kauai on Thursday, killing four people, including the pilot, and critically injuring three, officials said.
The crash occurred at Princeville Airport mid-afternoon, shortly after a Heli-USA Airways helicopter pilot radioed that he was having hydraulic problems, according to a statement from Kauai Fire Chief Robert Westerman.
Nigel Turner, CEO of Las Vegas-based Heli-USA, said the aircraft was at the end of its tour and minutes from its scheduled landing when it crashed.
"We are in the process of notifying the families of those individuals involved and our sincere condolences goes out at this time," he said. "We are working with authorities to find out exactly what happened."
Of the two men and two women who died, three were killed in the crash and one died while being taken to a hospital, Kauai County spokeswoman Mary Daubert said.
The pilot, who was not identified, had more than 10,000 hours flying an A-Star, the type of helicopter that crashed, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.
The crash comes one month after the Federal Aviation Administration announced new safety standards for air tour companies that operate at many vacation spots nationwide and for pilots who offer rides at air shows. The safety rule does not take effect until August.
The FAA promised to closely monitor deaths and other accidents involving air tours after looking into 107 accidents that killed 98 people from 1988 to 1995.
Five people were killed in 2004 when a helicopter operated by Bali Hai Helicopter Tours Inc. crashed into a mountain on Kauai. And three passengers drowned in 2005 after a Heli-USA helicopter plunged into the Pacific Ocean off Kauai.
Turner defended the safety of his helicopters. The company has a fleet of six in Hawaii, and also flies in Nevada.
"The company has flown over a million passengers. This is our second accident in a million people," he said, adding that he would not hesitate to put his own family in his helicopters.
The crash occurred at Princeville Airport mid-afternoon, shortly after a Heli-USA Airways helicopter pilot radioed that he was having hydraulic problems, according to a statement from Kauai Fire Chief Robert Westerman.
Nigel Turner, CEO of Las Vegas-based Heli-USA, said the aircraft was at the end of its tour and minutes from its scheduled landing when it crashed.
"We are in the process of notifying the families of those individuals involved and our sincere condolences goes out at this time," he said. "We are working with authorities to find out exactly what happened."
Of the two men and two women who died, three were killed in the crash and one died while being taken to a hospital, Kauai County spokeswoman Mary Daubert said.
The pilot, who was not identified, had more than 10,000 hours flying an A-Star, the type of helicopter that crashed, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.
The crash comes one month after the Federal Aviation Administration announced new safety standards for air tour companies that operate at many vacation spots nationwide and for pilots who offer rides at air shows. The safety rule does not take effect until August.
The FAA promised to closely monitor deaths and other accidents involving air tours after looking into 107 accidents that killed 98 people from 1988 to 1995.
Five people were killed in 2004 when a helicopter operated by Bali Hai Helicopter Tours Inc. crashed into a mountain on Kauai. And three passengers drowned in 2005 after a Heli-USA helicopter plunged into the Pacific Ocean off Kauai.
Turner defended the safety of his helicopters. The company has a fleet of six in Hawaii, and also flies in Nevada.
"The company has flown over a million passengers. This is our second accident in a million people," he said, adding that he would not hesitate to put his own family in his helicopters.
Astar&Hyd.
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Hydraulic problems?
My condolences to the families of those lost.
Can anyone detail the nature of what happens to an A-Star with hydraulic problems. I know this isn't the first we've heard of this on the A-Star line, but was wondering what some of the causes have been in the past. I don't want to get into speculation on this accident ... maybe time for a new thread?
Can anyone detail the nature of what happens to an A-Star with hydraulic problems. I know this isn't the first we've heard of this on the A-Star line, but was wondering what some of the causes have been in the past. I don't want to get into speculation on this accident ... maybe time for a new thread?
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A tragic event for Heli USA...
I was in Princeville last week and took an island tour with them. Their operation was extremely professional, well run and very safety oriented. We had a full load of passengers from Canada. Our pilot was either German or Dutch, very capable, experienced and safe. He mentioned that Heli USA flew at higher altitudes than some of the other operators on Kauai because of safety concerns in the event of an emergency landing situation. They had at least three helicopters there in Princeville, one in mx, undergoing what appeared to be a 'D' check, one parked on the ramp, and the one we were flying. I am not sure how a hydraulic failure affects an emergency landing/auto-rotation, but noticed that the pilot had the presence of mind to deploy and inflate the skid floats to try and cushion the landing. It was obviously not enough. To all of the passengers aboard and their families, to the pilot and his family, and to all of the fine employees at Heli USA, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
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A summary of the new regulations (effective on 15 Mar 2007) which are designed to prevent this sort of thing, can be found at this location:
http://www.asa2fly.com/AB2012000Stor...Update2007.pdf
It is Part 136 changes.
I have listed the main changes petaining to Hawaii. There are others though.
cl12pv2s
Add new Appendix A to Part 136 as follows:
Appendix A to Part 136—Special Operating Rules for
Air Tour Operators in the State of Hawaii
Section 1. Applicability.
This appendix prescribes operating
rules for airplane and helicopter visual flight rules air tour flights
conducted in the State of Hawaii under 14 CFR parts 91, 121, and
135. This appendix does not apply to:
(a) Operations conducted under 14 CFR part 121 in airplanes
with a passenger seating configuration of more than 30 seats or a
payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds.
(b) Flights conducted in gliders or hot air balloons.
Section 2. Definitions.
For the purposes of this appendix:
“
Air tour
” means any sightseeing flight conducted under visual
flight rules in an airplane or helicopter for compensation or hire.
“
Air tour operator
” means any person who conducts an air
tour.
Section 3. Helicopter flotation equipment.
No person may
conduct an air tour in Hawaii in a single-engine helicopter beyond
the shore of any island, regardless of whether the helicopter is
within gliding distance of the shore, unless:
(a) The helicopter is amphibious or is equipped with floats adequate
to accomplish a safe emergency ditching and approved flotation
gear is easily accessible for each occupant; or
(b) Each person on board the helicopter is wearing approved
flotation gear.
Section 4. Helicopter performance plan.
Each operator must
complete a performance plan before each helicopter air tour flight.
The performance plan must be based on the information in the
Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM), considering the maximum density
altitude for which the operation is planned for the flight to determine
the following:
(a) Maximum gross weight and center of gravity (CG) limitations
for hovering in ground effect;
(b) Maximum gross weight and CG limitations for hovering out
of ground effect; and,
(c) Maximum combination of weight, altitude, and temperature
for which height-velocity information in the RFM is valid.
The pilot in command (PIC) must comply with the performance
plan.
Section 5. Helicopter Operating Limitations.
Except for
approach to and transition from a hover, and except for the purpose
of takeoff and landing, the PIC shall operate the helicopter at
a combination of height and forward speed (including hover) that
would permit a safe landing in event of engine power loss, in
accordance with the height-speed envelope for that helicopter
under current weight and aircraft altitude.
Section 6. Minimum flight altitudes.
Except when necessary
for takeoff and landing, or operating in compliance with an air traf-
fic control clearance, or as otherwise authorized by the Administrator,
no person may conduct an air tour in Hawaii:
(a) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface over all
areas of the State of Hawaii, and,
(b) Closer than 1,500 feet to any person or property; or,
(c) Below any altitude prescribed by federal statute or regulation.
Section 7. Passenger briefing.
Before takeoff, each PIC of an
air tour flight of Hawaii with a flight segment beyond the ocean
shore of any island shall ensure that each passenger has been
briefed on the following, in addition to requirements set forth in 14
CFR 91.107, 121.571, or 135.117:
(a) Water ditching procedures;
(b) Use of required flotation equipment; and
(c) Emergency egress from the aircraft in event of a water landing.
[Docket No. FAA–1998–4521, 72 FR 6914, Feb. 13, 2007]
http://www.asa2fly.com/AB2012000Stor...Update2007.pdf
It is Part 136 changes.
I have listed the main changes petaining to Hawaii. There are others though.
cl12pv2s
Add new Appendix A to Part 136 as follows:
Appendix A to Part 136—Special Operating Rules for
Air Tour Operators in the State of Hawaii
Section 1. Applicability.
This appendix prescribes operating
rules for airplane and helicopter visual flight rules air tour flights
conducted in the State of Hawaii under 14 CFR parts 91, 121, and
135. This appendix does not apply to:
(a) Operations conducted under 14 CFR part 121 in airplanes
with a passenger seating configuration of more than 30 seats or a
payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds.
(b) Flights conducted in gliders or hot air balloons.
Section 2. Definitions.
For the purposes of this appendix:
“
Air tour
” means any sightseeing flight conducted under visual
flight rules in an airplane or helicopter for compensation or hire.
“
Air tour operator
” means any person who conducts an air
tour.
Section 3. Helicopter flotation equipment.
No person may
conduct an air tour in Hawaii in a single-engine helicopter beyond
the shore of any island, regardless of whether the helicopter is
within gliding distance of the shore, unless:
(a) The helicopter is amphibious or is equipped with floats adequate
to accomplish a safe emergency ditching and approved flotation
gear is easily accessible for each occupant; or
(b) Each person on board the helicopter is wearing approved
flotation gear.
Section 4. Helicopter performance plan.
Each operator must
complete a performance plan before each helicopter air tour flight.
The performance plan must be based on the information in the
Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM), considering the maximum density
altitude for which the operation is planned for the flight to determine
the following:
(a) Maximum gross weight and center of gravity (CG) limitations
for hovering in ground effect;
(b) Maximum gross weight and CG limitations for hovering out
of ground effect; and,
(c) Maximum combination of weight, altitude, and temperature
for which height-velocity information in the RFM is valid.
The pilot in command (PIC) must comply with the performance
plan.
Section 5. Helicopter Operating Limitations.
Except for
approach to and transition from a hover, and except for the purpose
of takeoff and landing, the PIC shall operate the helicopter at
a combination of height and forward speed (including hover) that
would permit a safe landing in event of engine power loss, in
accordance with the height-speed envelope for that helicopter
under current weight and aircraft altitude.
Section 6. Minimum flight altitudes.
Except when necessary
for takeoff and landing, or operating in compliance with an air traf-
fic control clearance, or as otherwise authorized by the Administrator,
no person may conduct an air tour in Hawaii:
(a) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface over all
areas of the State of Hawaii, and,
(b) Closer than 1,500 feet to any person or property; or,
(c) Below any altitude prescribed by federal statute or regulation.
Section 7. Passenger briefing.
Before takeoff, each PIC of an
air tour flight of Hawaii with a flight segment beyond the ocean
shore of any island shall ensure that each passenger has been
briefed on the following, in addition to requirements set forth in 14
CFR 91.107, 121.571, or 135.117:
(a) Water ditching procedures;
(b) Use of required flotation equipment; and
(c) Emergency egress from the aircraft in event of a water landing.
[Docket No. FAA–1998–4521, 72 FR 6914, Feb. 13, 2007]
Gatvol
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"A summary of the new regulations (effective on 15 Mar 2007) which are designed to prevent this sort of thing, can be found "
Get Real. Since when can you regulate a mechanical failure. You must be a desk Jockey.
Get Real. Since when can you regulate a mechanical failure. You must be a desk Jockey.
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Wonder if the three survivors were further injured when they were heroically dragged from their seats. Of course, if there was leaking fuel, it was probably the right thing to do.
Gatvol
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"Wonder if the three survivors were further injured when they were heroically dragged from their seats."
Is that a question from a "Government Issued Pilot"/"Government Issued EMT"?? It has the sound of taxpayer funded jealousy......versus "Corporate Funded Medical Assistance". One with Territory/Empire in mind, the other with $$$$ in the sights.
Is that a question from a "Government Issued Pilot"/"Government Issued EMT"?? It has the sound of taxpayer funded jealousy......versus "Corporate Funded Medical Assistance". One with Territory/Empire in mind, the other with $$$$ in the sights.
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I don't think any pictures of this aircraft crash would be appropriate ....
It would serve no purpose at all ..... perhaps we should let this incident rest untill the NTSB has made their detailed investigation public.
It would serve no purpose at all ..... perhaps we should let this incident rest untill the NTSB has made their detailed investigation public.
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I think pictures (minus the gore) are quite appropriate. At very least it might make more of us go out and buy a helmet and this response to the pictures can save lives.
Why keep our heads in the sands over the dangers of what we do. Hell! - this helicopter looks like all it had was a very heavy landing.
Please post the photos, the sooner the better. OOW
Why keep our heads in the sands over the dangers of what we do. Hell! - this helicopter looks like all it had was a very heavy landing.
Please post the photos, the sooner the better. OOW
Gatvol
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By the time the FAA or NTSB comes out with an answer we will all be retired. Posting in good taste may give others some clue what happened and some ideas how not to do it again.
For the freeks who want gore, go to some other site.
For the freeks who want gore, go to some other site.
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BSousa wrote:
I agree.
By the time the FAA or NTSB comes out with an answer we will all be retired. Posting in good taste may give others some clue what happened and some ideas how not to do it again.
For the freeks who want gore, go to some other site.
For the freeks who want gore, go to some other site.
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Nope Sousa, not jealousy. It's just that had EMTs/Fire been there they would've spent ages stabilising the passengers before moving them. I wasn't trying to prove a point, simply thinking out loud. "I wonder" meant exactly that, not "hey everybody, read the following!"