Three Killed When Sightseeing Flight Goes Down

The NTSB planned Sunday to recover the wreckage of a Eurocopter AS-350B2 (file photo of type, right) that went down two days day earlier off Kauai's north shore during a routine sightseeing expedition, in an attempt to pinpoint the cause of the accident.

Three people onboard the helicopter, owned by Las Vegas-based Heli-USA, were killed in the accident Friday afternoon. The pilot, as well as a couple on a sightseeing jaunt, survived. Investigators have been able to speak with the survivors.

"Physically, they're doing well," said NTSB investigator Nicole Charnon. Surfers and lifeguards helped the survivors swim to land, according to a story in the Honolulu Star Bulletin.

The pilot believes he encountered wind shear before the helicopter went down, according to Hawaii DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa. A Navy helicopter crew which pulled two victims from the water confirmed that it was rainy and windy when they arrived on the scene.

"There was a squall line coming through," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Allen Aber. "Visibility was low."

AS-350s are used extensively in several fields, including air ambulance and forestry service work, as well as being a popular choice for sightseeing tour operators such as Heli USA.

The tour operator suspended its flights on Kauai Saturday, said Heli USA Marketing VP Jeff Power, "out of respect for the passengers."

The company was "in the process of working with the local authorities to notify the families of all passengers involved and we are doing everything we can to assist them," according to Power.

Heli-USA operates just one sight-seeing flight from Lihue Airport, where the Eurocopter departed from. The "Kauai Deluxe Island Kamaaina Helicopter Tour," according to the company's website, is a 45-minute tour over Kauai, flying over such landmarks as waterfalls, Waimea Canyon, and Kalalau Valley.

The company also offers flights over Oahu, as well as stateside flights over the Las Vegas Strip and the Grand Canyon.

FMI: www.heliusa.com