4 Dead In Hawaii Tourist Helicopter Crash

3 Critically Injured; Pilot Reported Trouble Shortly Before Accident

(CBS/AP)  A tour helicopter crashed at an airport on the island of Kauai, killing four people, including the pilot, and critically injuring three, officials said.

The crash occurred Thursday afternoon at Princeville Airport, shortly after a Heli-USA Airways helicopter pilot radioed that he was having hydraulic problems, according to a statement from Kauai Fire Chief Robert Westerman.

Nigel Turner, CEO of Las Vegas-based Heli-USA, said the aircraft was at the end of its tour and minutes from its scheduled landing when it crashed.

"We are in the process of notifying the families of those individuals involved and our sincere condolences goes out at this time," he said. "We are working with authorities to find out exactly what happened."

Of the two men and two women who died, three were killed in the crash and one died while being taken to a hospital, Kauai County spokeswoman Mary Daubert said.

The pilot, identified as Joe Sulak by the Honolulu Advertiser, had more than 10,000 hours flying an A-Star, the type of helicopter that crashed, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.

Sulak was known as "Helicopter Joe" and was Heli-USA's lead pilot, a member with a rival company told the newspaper. "I had ultimate respect for the man," Mike Stewart said. "He was a great guy."

The crash comes one month after the Federal Aviation Administration announced new safety standards for air tour companies that operate at many vacation spots nationwide and for pilots who offer rides at air shows. The safety rule does not take effect until August.

The FAA promised to closely monitor deaths and other accidents involving air tours after looking into 107 accidents that killed 98 people from 1988 to 1995.

Thursday's crash was the fifth fatal helicopter incident on Kauai in the past four years, the newspaper reported.

Five people were killed in 2004 when a helicopter operated by Bali Hai Helicopter Tours Inc. crashed into a mountain on Kauai. And three passengers drowned in 2005 after a Heli-USA helicopter plunged into the Pacific Ocean off Kauai.

Turner defended the safety of his helicopters. The company has a fleet of six in Hawaii, and also flies in Nevada.

"The company has flown over a million passengers. This is our second accident in a million people," he said, adding that he would not hesitate to put his own family in his helicopters.

[padrigo17us]

I like to travel. But I am not too keen to fly on an airplane, especially after the 9/11 attacks. I plan on going on trips to other countrys in the future to explore, but I will make sure that it is safe. I mean have them check the conditions of the airplane before taking off - the fuel, buttons and controls, lights, communications.

[jetlizhan]

i still love flying - in fact i flew just two weeks ago - but the total comfort and ease is definitely gone. i look over my shoulder all the time. and i check in just about everything except my purse. what a hassle with carry-ons.

[nolalou]

padrigo17us,

The things you mention and more are routinly checked, most are mandated by law. What are you going to do, do up to the airport gate and demand to inspect the plane yourself?

I agree air travel is not as easy now, with restrictions on what you can carry on, taking off your shoes before passing through security, etc. (I'm waiting for the day when all passingers will have to fly wearing nothing but hospital gowns!)
I try to keep in mind that many more people die every day in auto accidents than in plane crashes, and even fewer due to terrorist attacks against passenger flights.

What happend in Hawaii is tragic, but most likely due to mechanical failure, not terrorism.

[processor2]

"4 Dead in Hawaii helicopter accident" !?!?!?!

Maybe Queen Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats will pass a non-binding resolution urging Bush to withdraw from Hawaii.

LOL, LOL, LOL

[juliemd]

Processor2...you sick, freak. You're the only one laughing out loud, or laughing at all. Go to...

[oleander8]

"The safety rule does not take effect until August. "

Fat lot of good this does for those who fly between now and August.

[twinella47]

I was in Kawaii last November and I did take a Helicopter ride and it was magnificent and spectacular. My concerns was that the air port was infested with wasps in the waiting area before boarding. Greed was over the safety.
One after the other the Helicopters was taking off. As soon as it landed - unloaded and loaded and took off. No measurements was taken to check anything except to gas up and again un load and load as people was packages. The Pilot was a sweet heart and the ride one of the best, but greed takes lives and I am very sorry for the ones that perished trying to view the viwes of earlthly paradise in the beautiful Kawaii.

[wogerwabbit]

Processor2 is a sick individual... ignore him.

[cdnunn]

I've been tempted to take the helicopter tour when I vacation in Kauai every other summer, but I've never done it for this very reason--air vehicle crashes are almost always totally lethal.
I'm glad to see that processor2 has weighed in with his opinion. The reflection is entirely on him and his Republican pals.

[sandynorth]

You may not think of this as serious as it is unless one of those who dies was your sisterin law and the other your brother. Try being miles away and not being able to know if when you get there they are going to still be alive, Time is of the essence. Why not take a little more time for inspections and a little less time of trying to hurry and get in tht next tour. Take a little time to make sure after each flight everything is ok. Is that too much to ask?

[ceejay2005]

Do the Big Island Spectacular with Blue Hawaiian. Their best chopper is called the Eco-Star; it has more room then their A-Star. They do a good job on the narration. You'll see the volcano and waterfalls and get a DVD of your trip. http://paradisecopters.com