Air One crippled The fire department helicopter lost its landing gear during a rescue late this morning in Laie but was able to land safely at Honolulu Airport about 1 p.m. today, witnesses said.
on rescue mission
It was attempting to land
when it broke off a landing skidStar-Bulletin staff
The helicopter, which was missing its left landing gear, hovered above a hydraulic jack near the Genesis Aviation hangar on Lagoon Drive and was able to land safely. The state airport crash rescue crew was on standby during the landing.
Pilot Steve Aiu, the only person on board the helicopter during the operation, was being debriefed by fire personnel this afternoon.
The incident began as a "high angle rescue" call near the Laie Wastewater Treatment plant at about 11:30 a.m. today. Rescue crews along with the helicopter responded.
Freelance photographer Barry Markowitz said the helicopter was trying to land near the Mormon Temple before attempting the rescue when it ran into trouble, possibly a wind gust.
"All of a sudden his left side tilted down. It came down hard on its left sled and lurched forward," he said.
"It was almost as if it was out of control," he said. But the pilot was able to stabilize the aircraft and proceeded to hover as the crews assessed the damage.
Markowitz said the helicopter's landing gear was badly damaged and the helicopter left to return to the airport.
Fire officials said emergency crews were called to the Laie Wastewater Treatment plant to assist a man on a cellular antenna. Two workers were repairing the antenna when one of them felt numbness in his left arm.
Capt. Gary Pardy, of the Kahuku Fire Station, said the coworker ended up helping the man down and emergency workers then checked his vital statistics. The man, showing symptoms of a stroke, was taken by ambulance to Wahiawa General Hospital. His condition was unknown.
Fire officials said the helicopter ran into trouble after the pilot was told its services were not needed in the rescue.
The city purchased the McDonnell Douglas 520N NOTAR rescue helicopter for $858,000 cash in 1995, most of that from insurance money. The yellow chopper replaced two lost in mishaps in 1995, one a crash that cost the lives of a fire department pilot and two policemen.
The NOTAR, which stands for No Tail Rotor, was selected because it is considered safer, quieter and easier to maneuver than the city's previous choppers.