Big Isle tour accident
is blamed on pilot

Federal safety officials cite poor
planning and fog in the helicopter’s
hard landing last year

A Blue Hawaiian Helicopter tour pilot's inadequate planning likely helped cause an accident involving seven people near Paauilo on the Big Island's Hamakua Coast on July 8, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The board said the pilot's failure to steer clear of obstacles was also a likely factor in the accident. Low-ceiling clouds and fog were listed as contributing factors as well.

One person suffered minor injuries, and the six others were uninjured in the accident.

The American Eurocopters A-Star AS350B2 took off from Waikoloa heliport in West Hawaii at 12:15 p.m. for a 2 1/2-hour tour around the Big Island, a Blue Hawaiian official said previously.

The company received a cell-phone call from the pilot about 30 minutes later saying he was on the ground and had made a hard landing.

According to the board, which issued its report Wednesday, the pilot had heard reports of poor weather conditions along his intended flight path and chose a different flight path to avoid the weather.

"He flew above scattered, thin layer of clouds, and the weather began changing rapidly and clouds formed and closed in on the helicopter," the board said.

The pilot descended through a break in the clouds, but the weather continued to worsen as the clouds and fog continued to engulf the helicopter, the board said.

The report said the pilot was attempting to reverse course and climb when the main rotor struck a tree and the helicopter began vibrating severely, leading to an emergency landing.

During the touchdown, the right skid struck a boulder, and the helicopter rolled onto its side, the board said.

"A witness reported that just prior to the accident, weather conditions were sunny and clear, then the fog rapidly came in and surface visibility decreased to 4 feet. She further stated that the rapidly changing weather is common to the area," the board report said.

Blue Hawaiian co-owner Patti Chevalier said after that reviewing the accident, her business bought a flight simulator to train pilots to recover from quick weather changes.

Chevalier said her business is the only tour operation in the state to have a flight simulator.

"I think the flight simulator is a very positive step," she said. "Training is the key."

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Pilot error contributed to
2004 crash on Maui

WAILUKU » A pilot's failure to maintain adequate air speed while maneuvering for a landing on one engine was a probable cause of a twin- engine airplane accident at Kahului Airport on Maui, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The board said an investigation was unable to determine the reason for the engine power loss.

The pilot, who received minor injuries, was ferrying the Piper PA-31 Navajo from Australia to Canada on Feb. 18, 2004, and was on a leg between Hawaii and North America when the right engine failed 300 miles northeast of Oahu, the board said in a report Wednesday.

The Coast Guard, which receive the emergency call shortly after 11:27 a.m., escorted the plane to Maui, but it crashed 200 yards short of the runway.

The board said the airplane stalled, and the right wing dropped and hit the ground.

The fuel system had been modified a few months prior to the accident to allow for a ferry fuel tank installation, the board said.

A county fire official had said that the pilot reported being 3 1/2 hours into his flight to the mainland when the fuel pump to his right engine failed.

The pilot said the pump began working again as he made his way to Maui, but stopped functioning as he approached the airport, the fire official said.

Quickway Air Services of Alberta, Canada, which used its airplane for an aerial surveying job in Australia, had hired the pilot.