Private copter hired by Army crash-lands; no serious injuries
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
The pilot of a private helicopter escaped serious injury when his Hughes 500 aircraft crash-landed yesterday afternoon near Wahiawa.
Maj. Stacy Bathrick, spokeswoman for the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, said the accident occurred at about 4:15 p.m. in the Kawailoa training area. Fire officials were not called until a half-hour later.
The Hughes 500 helicopter, owned by Pacific Helicopters, was flying equipment for Army employees who were conducting routine environmental work on a ridgeline in the training area, Bathrick said. There were no passengers on the helicopter when the accident occurred, she said.
Honolulu Fire Department 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 ridgeline, 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."
The pilot, in his 50s, was airlifted to the Whitmore Community Park. From there, an ambulance took him to Wahiawa General Hospital. Tejada said the man complained of shoulder pain but was not seriously injured.
Yesterday's hard landing was the second incident involving a private helicopter hired by the Army to do routine environmental work.
On Oct. 29, 2002, a Hughes 500 helicopter 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.
Staff writer Peter Boylan contributed to this report. Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
