That helicopter pilot Crashed on a sightseeing trip A passenger plane off the Hawaiian island of Kauai last month, killing three passengers, told investigators that the plane rocked and rolled before plunging into the water, according to a report released Friday.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s initial report did not identify the suspected cause of the March 26 accident, but said the pilot said he experienced “high-frequency vibration throughout the helicopter that came in waves and got stronger each time.”
The helicopter was carrying the pilot and four passengers when it crashed off remote Kalalau Beach, on the Na Pali Coast on the north shore of Kauai, an area accessible only by hiking or boat. The region’s long coastal cliffs and steep mountain ridges can contribute to air turbulence and rapid weather changes that pose aviation hazards.
The surviving pilot and passenger were seriously injured.
According to the report, the pilot said the vibrations started when he made a left turn offshore as part of the normal flight pattern. Then the helicopter began to rotate rapidly clockwise. He put the plane into autorotation mode — a maneuver that allows the rotor to spin by air force, not engine power — which halted the rotation. He made a mayday call before hitting the water about 75 yards (69 m) from shore.
The helicopter flipped onto its right side and partially sank. The report did not address how the pilot and one of the passengers survived the accident, nor did it mention where the surviving passenger was sitting.
The report stated that a witness who was flying near the accident site saw the accident and stated that the helicopter appeared intact before it hit the water and crashed.
Authorities identified the three people killed as Margaret Remler, 65, and Patrick Haskell, 59, both of Massachusetts, and Ukrainian citizen Oksana Pehol, 40.
The helicopter was operated by Airborne Aviation, which offers sightseeing tours of Kauai’s canyons, beaches and waterfalls. Airborne advertises an “adventure tour for thrill-seekers” for up to four people. Helicopter tours are a popular way to explore the cliffs, beaches and waterfalls that surround the Na Pali Coast.
Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety expert, said the sudden vibrations and rotation of the helicopter indicate some kind of mechanical problem with the helicopter — most likely in the tail rotor — although it is too early to say what the problem is.
“This would almost certainly lead to a mechanical failure in the helicopter, which would direct the investigation to maintenance and design issues,” said Guzzetti, who used to investigate crashes for both the NTSB and the FAA.
Guzzetti said it appeared the pilot did the right things because he was able to stop the spin, but the helicopter did not have enough time or altitude to reach shore.
The accident was the latest in a A series of fatal accidents That has plagued the industry for decades. At least 16 people have died in helicopter crashes in Hawaii in the past seven years, including two in 2019.
Tourism companies in other parts of the country, including New York, have also encountered incidents. One last year On the Hudson River In New York, killing the pilot and a family of five Spanish tourists. Five people died in 2018 when a charter helicopter offering “open door” tours crashed into the East River. In 2009, a collision between a plane and a tour helicopter over the Hudson River killed nine people.
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Johnson reported from Seattle. Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska.