R44 Down Kauai
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Joined: Mar 2005
Aviation Qualifications: Military
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From: Aus
R44 Down Kauai
From Avweb
The Coast Guard has called off its search for two missing men after an air tour helicopter crashed off the Hawaiian island of Kauai on Thursday. The body of one of the passengers was recovered shortly after the crash. The dead woman was Amy Nichole Ruart Quintua. Missing are passenger James Quintua and pilot Guy Croyden.A preliminary report indicates hikers witnessed the helicopter crash into the water around 1:20 p.m. and reported the incident to authorities. The helicopter, identified as a Robinson R44 by the FAA, was operated by Ali’i Kauai Air Tours and Charters based in Lihue. Following the crash, the FAA issued a temporary flight restriction (TFR) for the search and rescue operations. The agency said it’s investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board.
According to a report from CNN, Hawaii has the highest number of deaths from air tour crashes in the nation—with 85 killed since the NTSB began keeping records. With increased scrutiny, local officials have called for stricter regulations and oversight of air tour operations in the state. New safety measures including equipment upgrades and flight data monitoring were included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
According to a report from CNN, Hawaii has the highest number of deaths from air tour crashes in the nation—with 85 killed since the NTSB began keeping records. With increased scrutiny, local officials have called for stricter regulations and oversight of air tour operations in the state. New safety measures including equipment upgrades and flight data monitoring were included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
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From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Slow news day huh….This happened last Thursday July 11th.
https://www.wlwt.com/article/norther...awaii/61600411
https://www.wlwt.com/article/norther...awaii/61600411
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Honolulu
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
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From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Having flown there for 7 years, I can tell you that is very typical weather for the island of Kauai. Passing clouds all day long. I understand there may have been a nasty wind associated with one of those passing clouds, but again, nothing really untoward there.
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Australia
As Gordy mentioned also, weather of that sort not that unusual for the north shore of Kauai.
I noticed an error on Page 4 of the report as well in the 'seat occupied' entry.
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 55
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From: Torrance, CA
also, regarding the question about teetering head helicopters, the R22 and R44 are the primary trainers on the Hawaiian islands. So the rotor type is fine for the islands with the proper operational limits and procedures.
The islands are a very tough place to fly with many hazards related to IIMC and winds. This has contributed to numerous serious accidents in the last few decades. We continue to work closely with operators in Hawaii to help with training and technology to strengthen operational safety.
Joined: Jun 2025
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From: Pune
1. Flying in conditions where the drifting clouds can obscure your horizon instantaneously can be certainly challenging. Furthermore, when the humidity causes haze all over the water, even the fatigue levels will always be on the higher side.
2. Strong, gusty wind conditions will also cause large variation of power demand and corresponding variation of collective. This will demand more attention of the pilot to monitor the torque variations, the Ts and Ps as also the visual cues as in ser 1 above.
The point i wish to make is we need to learn from these potential situations and be away or evading them as much as possible. Once likely to face both the situations together, experience should be used to avoid getting into the situation or exiting as soon as possible, negotiating weather to continue is a totally no-go situation. Not that this pilot did anything wrong, he just helped us to remind us of some important aspects.
2. Strong, gusty wind conditions will also cause large variation of power demand and corresponding variation of collective. This will demand more attention of the pilot to monitor the torque variations, the Ts and Ps as also the visual cues as in ser 1 above.
The point i wish to make is we need to learn from these potential situations and be away or evading them as much as possible. Once likely to face both the situations together, experience should be used to avoid getting into the situation or exiting as soon as possible, negotiating weather to continue is a totally no-go situation. Not that this pilot did anything wrong, he just helped us to remind us of some important aspects.
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: EGDC
Robinsons are great for this sort of work since they are cheaper than pretty much any other option - sure we kill a few people now and again but what the hell, think about the profit.............
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: California
Originally Posted by [email protected]
Robinsons are great for this sort of work since they are cheaper than pretty much any other option - sure we kill a few people now and again but what the hell, think about the profit.............
,...all in pursuit of those precious hours (profit).
