No one was seriously injured when the Hughes 500 crashed about 4:15 p.m. yesterday near Wahiawa. The pilot, who was identified by the Federal Aviation Administration today as Joseph Allen, was the only person in the helicopter.

Maj. Stacy Bathrick, a spokeswoman for the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, said the accident occurred in the Kawailoa training area. Fire officials were not called until a half-hour later.

The helicopter, owned by Pacific Helicopter Tours Inc., of Kahului, Maui, was flying equipment for Army employees who were conducting routine environmental work on a ridge in the training area, Bathrick said. The equipment was being carried beneath the helicopter in a sling, she said.

Bathrick called the accident "a controlled landing."

Honolulu fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said workers on the ground called for help when they realized that the pilot was in trouble. The helicopter was about a mile from the Ko'olau ridge line, Tejada said.

The fire department’s Air One helicopter was joined by a police helicopter and an Army helicopter in the search. Tejada said the Hughes 500 was found on its side in a river bed about 45 minutes after the search began, and the pilot was standing outside the aircraft.

"Once we got into the area, he was able to communicate with us on the radio," Tejada said. "We were able to locate him really quickly because all of the conditions were right."

Allen, who is in his 50s, was airlifted to Whitmore Community Park. From there, an ambulance took him to Wahiawa General Hospital. Tejada said he complained of shoulder pain but was not seriously hurt.

This was the second crash this year of a Pacific Helicopter Tours helicopter. In May, one of its pilots died when his UH-1 Bell helicopter crashed on Kaho'olawe while doing work for the Navy. A cable beneath the helicopter struck the tail rotor.

Yesterday’s mishap was the second incident involving a private helicopter hired by the Army to do routine environmental work.

On Oct. 29, 2002, a Hughes 500 rolled over several times and slid 100 feet down the Ka'aumakua ridge that divides Schofield Barracks’ East Range and Kahana Valley. The helicopter, owned by Cherry Helicopters, was attempting to take off when it crashed.

Three men in that helicopter escaped serious injury.