Tour copter on Big Isle
lands hard; no fatalities
HILO >> A Blue Hawaiian Helicopters tour aircraft made a hard landing in a pasture near Paauilo on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island yesterday, but the pilot and six passengers suffered no serious injuries.
Hawaii County Fire Capt. Felix Asia said the helicopter was on its side when a county ambulance arrived.
He said one of the passengers reported that the aircraft had descended rapidly, its rotors hitting trees as it went down. It rolled onto its side upon landing, he said.
The pilot reported pain in one knee, and a woman on board felt pain in her hand, Asia said. They were taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea for observation, along with three members of the woman's family, Asia said. The two remaining passengers had no injuries, he said.
Patti Chevalier, a co-owner of Blue Hawaiian with her husband, Dave, said the American Eurocopters A-Star AS350B2 took off from the Waikoloa heliport in West Hawaii at 12:15 p.m. on an around-the-island tour intended to last 2 1/2 hours.
At 12:45 p.m. the pilot reported by cell phone to the company that he was on the ground and had made a hard landing, Chevalier said.
Chevalier said the reason for the incident was not clear. The Federal Aviation Administration was expected to begin an on-site investigation today.
County Civil Defense Director Troy Kindred put the site of the incident at 200 yards uphill from the end of a street in Paauilo.
