Hawaii tour crash kills 3
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Joined: Sep 2011
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From: USA
Hawaii tour crash kills 3
Tour crash in Hawaii has killed 3 and injured 2.
https://nypost.com/2026/03/27/us-new...f-kauai-coast/
Looks like they are operating H500s, according to their website.
https://airborneaviationtours.com/
https://nypost.com/2026/03/27/us-new...f-kauai-coast/
Looks like they are operating H500s, according to their website.
https://airborneaviationtours.com/
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From: Everett, WA
My sister and I took a helicopter tour of the Hawaii "Big Island" about 10 years ago. Not thrill-seeking, but to see the phenomenal scenery (and it was truly phenomenal). Loved every minute of the 4 hours.
We flew over the crater of an active volcano - could see bubbling lava, along with miles of fairly recent lava fields as well as the local fires as the lava slowly advanced through the rain forest - burning everything in its path. Although it did occur to that would be a really, really bad time to have to make an emergency landing
.
If you're never seen parts of the Hawaiian Islands from the air, you have no idea what you are missing.
We flew over the crater of an active volcano - could see bubbling lava, along with miles of fairly recent lava fields as well as the local fires as the lava slowly advanced through the rain forest - burning everything in its path. Although it did occur to that would be a really, really bad time to have to make an emergency landing
.If you're never seen parts of the Hawaiian Islands from the air, you have no idea what you are missing.
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From: DM33
I did a tour from the same island and airport as this accident flight. It certainly was not thrill-seeking but the scenery, particularly the waterfalls, was memorable. On the down side I was relegated to a rear bench seat and really wanted to be up front.
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From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
As most of the old timers on here know, I flew tours on Kauai for 7 years. This accident may seem different because it appears it was NOT weather related. It will be interesting to read what happened. The company is the only one that "advertises" with the words "thrill" that I know of, most other companies on the island try to avoid giving that impression.
With one exception, (in 2005 or 2006), all the MD 500 accidents have been mechanical, or pilot error. One clipped another 500 while filming, one had a TR failure, one had an engine bearing failure, one two years ago had engine failure and crash landed on Honopu beach right next to where this current one ended up, one crashed on a fire fighting mission---interesting read on that one, it was the company owners son, who only had a private pilot certificate.
With one exception, (in 2005 or 2006), all the MD 500 accidents have been mechanical, or pilot error. One clipped another 500 while filming, one had a TR failure, one had an engine bearing failure, one two years ago had engine failure and crash landed on Honopu beach right next to where this current one ended up, one crashed on a fire fighting mission---interesting read on that one, it was the company owners son, who only had a private pilot certificate.
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From: Brantisvogan
In this case it was a doors off flight, we have seen what happened in NY when operators wanted to enhance the experience and try differentiate themselves.
There inherently seems to be a parallel between culture, safety and thrill seeking in tourist flights that inevitably ends with them making the news.
Some tourists are non too bright and adding risk seems to eventually lead to a poor outcome.
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From: Auckland, New Zealand
Bell_ringer I know the owner and the guys running Airborne in Hawaii and they are not "thrillseekers" despite what the marketing people say. They run a professional operation in Kauai and also run the SAR helo there for the Fire Dept.
Other operators such as Jack Harter Helicopters have also run doors off flights - thats the "thrill" part - nothing to do with adverse flying or the like.
From what I heard this was possibly an engine failure so has nothing to do with any "thrill seeking element". To judge an operator just because their marketing people use the thrill seeking terminology on their advertising to gain a share of the tourism market is quite narrow minded.
- such a stupid comment.
I would fly with any of Airbornes pilots any day of the week.
Other operators such as Jack Harter Helicopters have also run doors off flights - thats the "thrill" part - nothing to do with adverse flying or the like.
From what I heard this was possibly an engine failure so has nothing to do with any "thrill seeking element". To judge an operator just because their marketing people use the thrill seeking terminology on their advertising to gain a share of the tourism market is quite narrow minded.
There inherently seems to be a parallel between culture, safety and thrill seeking in tourist flights that inevitably ends with them making the news.
I would fly with any of Airbornes pilots any day of the week.
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From: Brantisvogan
Good for you. I am entitled to an observation, having seen some less than stellar operations and there being more than sufficient precedent.
Most people have no clue who they are flying with when arriving as tourists and standards do vary.
I sure as heck won't get on anyones service who leads with thrill-seeking in their marketing.
No offence intended nor inference made.
Most people have no clue who they are flying with when arriving as tourists and standards do vary.
I sure as heck won't get on anyones service who leads with thrill-seeking in their marketing.
No offence intended nor inference made.
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From: California
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From: Brantisvogan
Fleet Manager
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From: Ontario, Canada
Well, I remember my first flight in a helicopter as a young person (so long ago, it was actually a Hughes 300). I found the flight to be very thrilling! It was entirely routine, just from the amusement park around the town and back. Sure, a tourist seeking a helicopter tour may be seeking a bit of a thrill, the job of the pilot is to make a flight which is entirely safe and routine, have just enough "thrill" that the passengers got what they flew for! And, I have had passengers who asked for something in particular.... If it was to fly over their house, probably okay, if was for an unusual maneuver, no, the flight won't be that thrilling.
If the passenger has been thrilled, probably good. If the pilot of the passenger "thrill" flight has been thrilled, probably not good.
If the passenger has been thrilled, probably good. If the pilot of the passenger "thrill" flight has been thrilled, probably not good.
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From: USA
In the 90's we would take clients into the "keyhole", Waimanu Valley (Big Island). Neat place, highest waterfalls on the Big Island. Real tight going in, definitely not a spot to pass another helicopter. Absolutely NO put down spot.
Sigh, Sigh; We got older, wiser, and FAA discovered the Big Island. Now tours fly over top! My last time in was a risk-reward decision with only three pilots onboard.
Sigh, Sigh; We got older, wiser, and FAA discovered the Big Island. Now tours fly over top! My last time in was a risk-reward decision with only three pilots onboard.
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From: Virginia, USA
NTSB Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report - N715KV
According to the pilot, upon reaching Kalalau beach, he accomplished a left turn away from the shoreline as part of the normal flight profile. Upon entering the turn, the pilot experienced a high frequency vibration throughout the helicopter that came in waves and became stronger each time. Subsequently, the helicopter started an un-commanded right yaw that could not be corrected with input from the left anti-torque pedal. The helicopter quickly began to rotate clockwise, completing about 2 rotations, and the pilot entered the helicopter into an autorotation. He rolled the throttle to idle and attempted to increase the airspeed for better directional control.
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From: Aus
I would fly with any of Airbornes pilots any day of the week
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From: Honolulu
In the 90's we would take clients into the "keyhole", Waimanu Valley (Big Island). Neat place, highest waterfalls on the Big Island. Real tight going in, definitely not a spot to pass another helicopter. Absolutely NO put down spot.
Sigh, Sigh; We got older, wiser, and FAA discovered the Big Island. Now tours fly over top! My last time in was a risk-reward decision with only three pilots onboard.
Sigh, Sigh; We got older, wiser, and FAA discovered the Big Island. Now tours fly over top! My last time in was a risk-reward decision with only three pilots onboard.
I do remember a crash in a Beech 18 flying up Waipio Valley. If I remember correctly is was an engine failure and he could not make the 180 degree turn back out and hit the valley wall. Made the point that flying down a valley was far safer than flying up into rising terrain. An old boss of mine lost an engine near Hilo and managed to put it down in the bay and everyone survived..
