Four killed in helicopter crash on Big Island

Associated Press

VOLCANO, Hawai'i — A sightseeing helicopter flying over an active lava flow from Kilauea Volcano crashed today into rugged terrain, killing the pilot and all three passengers.

The pilot of the Hughes 500 reported engine problems before the helicopter fell straight down and "pancaked" into an old lava flow, said Tweet Coleman, the Federal Aviation Administration's Pacific representative.

The helicopter owned by Tropical Helicopters was on a tour of the Kilauea eruption when it crashed about two miles from Chain of Craters Road, at the 600-foot level on a cliff known as Pulama Pali, Ranger Jim Gale at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park said. It wasn't immediately known how close the crash site was to active lava flows.

The bodies of the victims were recovered as park rescue personnel conducted an investigation at the scene of the crash, Gale said. Their names were being withheld pending notification of family members.

Park dispatch had received a "mayday" distress call from the pilot before losing radio contact, Gale said.

A park firefighting helicopter working in the area confirmed the crash a short time later, and dropped buckets of water on the crash site fire, he said.

The pilot was familiar with the area because he had flown for another helicopter operator before coming to Tropical, Coleman said.

A call to Tropical Helicopters at Hilo International Airport was answered by a man who would only identify himself as a company spokesman. He said he could release no information about the crash.

Two FAA inspectors and a National Transportation Safety Board investigator were scheduled to arrive at the site tomorrow, Coleman said.

In September 2001, a Tropical Helicopters Bell 206 helicopter experienced engine problems, made an emergency landing in a pasture and burst into flames after taking off from the airport. No serious injuries were reported among the five people aboard.

A small tour plane ditched in the ocean four miles north Hilo in August 2000. An Oklahoma woman was killed, but the eight other people aboard the plane were rescued.

Kilauea Volcano has been erupting since Jan. 3, 1983.