Kauai helicopter crash
Sep 30th, 2005, 07:03 AM
#41
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The company that crashed, Heli USA, is an operator headquartered in Las Vegas - and my understanding is that they have been "in trouble" with the FAA in the past becaused of deferred maintenance on their helicopters. Heli USA's own chief pilot went to the FAA and complained that problems in maintenance were ignored by the owner of Heli USA. The chief pilot quit because he believed the helicopters were unsafe. My ex-boyfriend is very close friends with a pilot who was working for Heli USA when the chief pilot quit -which is how I heard this story. As for the Kauai crash,it certainly sounds weather related (not maintenance related) and I know the final decision to not fly lies with the pilot, but if all the other heli companies had grounded their flights due to weather, why didn't Heli USA as a company also ground their flights that day? Profits before safety seems to be a common theme.
Sep 30th, 2005, 07:21 AM
#42
I'm not defending the heli tour companies here, but you can't just quote a "460%" increase in accidents without also talking about whether or not there has been an increase in the number of flights in the same period. I'm betting there has been, and an increase in the number of companies offering tours. That doesn't mean that tour companies couldn't do a better job of maintenance, or of screening pilots. But lots of these pilots were trained in the military and are good pilots and some of these companies do a good job of maintaining their craft.
Oct 23rd, 2005, 04:00 AM
#44
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My husband is a plane pilot here too and the problem with helicopters or small planes in Hawaii compared to most places is the shape of the mountains and the wind currents and changes. They aren't smooth gradual mountains. And something about the winds off the waters switching from Kona to Leeward winds. And how those valleys make funnel type winds. And the rain clouds moving in quickly and getting caught up on the mountains. Many of the pilots here were war heli pilots...experience can't fight nature.
Oct 23rd, 2005, 01:03 PM
#46
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Hi CaliNurse. I always wanted to to take on of the helicopter tours. My husband refused due to safety issues. A family member that was in the military, a helicoptor pilot, said that these helicopter tours are not the greatest idea. I am now convinced. But it would be a beautiful experience, well if there were no problems of course!!
Jan 8th, 2006, 10:39 AM
#47
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I have been building a website to collect all of the statistics on helicopter crashes in Hawaii. Please take a look and let me know if there is anything that I missed.
http://helicopter.stevestedman.com
I am trying to collect all the facts so that people can be will informed on the safety of helicopters in Hawaii.
http://helicopter.stevestedman.com
I am trying to collect all the facts so that people can be will informed on the safety of helicopters in Hawaii.
Jan 19th, 2006, 02:35 PM
#48
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It appears that your web site includes only fatal helicopter crashes. The link below is to an article in the Honolulu Star Bulletin about two recent non fatal helicopter crashes on Maui in one week.
http://starbulletin.com/2006/01/11/news/story06.html
http://starbulletin.com/2006/01/11/news/story06.html
Jun 7th, 2006, 10:27 PM
#50
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"Author: CaliNurse
Date: 09/24/2005, 02:20 am
Dusty, I've "googled" this tonight and can't find the information. Where shoud I look?
Meantime, here's an excellent summary of helicopter information for Kauai:
http://www.explorekauai.com/helicoptertours.html
Personally-- took helicopter once (Air Kauai) --never again.'
Was something wrong with hour tour, specifically? From what I can find Air Kauai has never had a crash. I was wondering why you say you won't ever go on them again.
Date: 09/24/2005, 02:20 am
Dusty, I've "googled" this tonight and can't find the information. Where shoud I look?
Meantime, here's an excellent summary of helicopter information for Kauai:
http://www.explorekauai.com/helicoptertours.html
Personally-- took helicopter once (Air Kauai) --never again.'
Was something wrong with hour tour, specifically? From what I can find Air Kauai has never had a crash. I was wondering why you say you won't ever go on them again.
Jun 7th, 2006, 11:27 PM
#51
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Hi Lomillerin. I meant I'll "never again" go on a helicopter tour. I put Air Kauai in parentheses in case people wondered which company I'dd gone with. I wouln't go with ANY company, knowing now what i do about safety. Read the rest of the posts (including mine) and it explains further why this is the case for me.
That said, i also disliked being packed into the center area of the back seat like a sardine wtih three other adults (one very wide). The kids were in front next to the pilot and had a stupendous view.
This was in 1998--they may have changed helicopters (size and or seat configuratin) now. We did not have owner Chuck as our pilot--that may have made a difference too. However, I repeat--I will never again go on a heli tour, over Kauai or any other place. Too risky, IMHO.
We had lots more fun on the wild ride we took along the Na Pali coast from Hanalei Bay.
Whatever you decide--have a great time when you go!!
That said, i also disliked being packed into the center area of the back seat like a sardine wtih three other adults (one very wide). The kids were in front next to the pilot and had a stupendous view.
This was in 1998--they may have changed helicopters (size and or seat configuratin) now. We did not have owner Chuck as our pilot--that may have made a difference too. However, I repeat--I will never again go on a heli tour, over Kauai or any other place. Too risky, IMHO.
We had lots more fun on the wild ride we took along the Na Pali coast from Hanalei Bay.
Whatever you decide--have a great time when you go!!
Jun 8th, 2006, 10:21 AM
#52
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Rusty, the reason that airplane/helicopter crashes make headlines is that they are so rare. Do you have any statistics on how many flights took off safely and landed safely? Didn't think so. A newspaper will bury a story about a five-fatality automobile crash on page 11, while a no-injury gear-up landing will make the front page.
Having said that, I think that common sense is a wonderful thing...if I am going to go up in anything (yes, I am a pilot), and the weather will make it uncomfortable for my passengers, I'm not going. Why would people get into an flying machine when the area was experiencing high winds and low clouds? You don't have to be a pilot to realize that it will be uncomfortable at best.
Having said that, I think that common sense is a wonderful thing...if I am going to go up in anything (yes, I am a pilot), and the weather will make it uncomfortable for my passengers, I'm not going. Why would people get into an flying machine when the area was experiencing high winds and low clouds? You don't have to be a pilot to realize that it will be uncomfortable at best.
Mar 28th, 2007, 01:45 PM
#53
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There are so many helicopter crashes these days I would reconsider. I flew in a helicopter years ago and it was beautiful but very nerve racking. So the next time I came to Kauai I researched the safest option for a very long time before I chose to fly. I wanted a safe and comfortable flight where I could see the remote inaccessible parts of the garden island!
Planes are safer for three main reasons.
One they fly with in the Flight Association Regulations, helicopters fly much lower and because of that have little to no room for error.
Two like some others mentioned a plane is designed to fly even with out a running engine, the slightest thing goes wrong with a helicopter and it drops like a fly.
Three there are less moving parts on a plane their for less that can brake or malfunction on the flight.
The weather in Kauai is very changeable and the winds are different than any place in the world. There are at least one helicopter crashes every year on the island and there are yet to be any airplane tour cashes.
I chose to fly with a company called Air Ventures. The family owned company was very friendly and helpful. Their plane was designed for search and rescue. I looked it up on the Internet and it seams to be the smoothest, roomiest; safest and have the best visibility of any small plane on the market. I can’t remember the name of the plane but I still have their number (808 651 0679).
I actually saw more of the island from the airplane. The same waterfalls mountains and canyons were seen but from a safer distance. I loved the views of the coast that I saw from my flight that were not seen from the helicopter.
Planes are safer for three main reasons.
One they fly with in the Flight Association Regulations, helicopters fly much lower and because of that have little to no room for error.
Two like some others mentioned a plane is designed to fly even with out a running engine, the slightest thing goes wrong with a helicopter and it drops like a fly.
Three there are less moving parts on a plane their for less that can brake or malfunction on the flight.
The weather in Kauai is very changeable and the winds are different than any place in the world. There are at least one helicopter crashes every year on the island and there are yet to be any airplane tour cashes.
I chose to fly with a company called Air Ventures. The family owned company was very friendly and helpful. Their plane was designed for search and rescue. I looked it up on the Internet and it seams to be the smoothest, roomiest; safest and have the best visibility of any small plane on the market. I can’t remember the name of the plane but I still have their number (808 651 0679).
I actually saw more of the island from the airplane. The same waterfalls mountains and canyons were seen but from a safer distance. I loved the views of the coast that I saw from my flight that were not seen from the helicopter.
