Posted on: Wednesday, April 11, 2001

FAA inspector's orders in helicopter crash examined

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua‘i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A Ni'ihau Helicopters Agusta A109A crashed last month after an FAA inspector ordered its pilot to perform a maneuver not authorized by the aircraft's manufacturer, according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report.

The helicopter, with only pilot Mike Hassett and Federal Aviation Administration inspector Jeff Weller aboard, landed hard after the maneuver and rolled on its side.

Neither man was seriously hurt, but the helicopter suffered major damage. Ni'ihau Helicopters is shopping for a replacement, a company official said.

The FAA inspector was conducting a pilot check March 22 near Burns Field at Port Allen. The incident occurred at the airport.

The NTSB preliminary report on the incident, which is posted on the agency's Web site, said Weller told Hasset to simulate an anti-torque system failure, or a "stuck pedal" scenario, during a landing approach.

During the maneuver, the helicopter landed hard from a hover 5 to 10 feet above the ground and rolled on its side.

The pilot said he had never been briefed on the scenario. The report said it was not a part of the pilot proficiency test being taken.

Further, according to the NTSB report, "the manufacturer reported that the maneuver as performed was not an authorized or approved maneuver in the A109A."

The safety board's Web site contains a warning that preliminary reports may contain errors and are subject to change.

The helicopter is Ni'ihau Helicopters' only aircraft. It was used for medical evacuations from Ni'ihau, which has no fixed-wing aircraft runway. It was also used to support U.S. Navy activities on the island, for tour flights, to bring in hunting safari groups and to conduct Ni'ihau Ranch business.