An initial inspection of the helicopter, operated by Inter-Island Helicopters Inc., found that the tail rotor gearbox showed breaks typical of overstress fractures, the National Transportation Safety Board report said. A final report by the board could take a year or more to complete.

The March 11 helicopter crash in Haena was the second in four days on Kaua'i. Michael Gershon, 60, of Walnut Creek, Calif., died in the crash.

Torres suffered minor injuries, and three other passengers had serious injuries.

Witnesses on the ground told investigators they saw two objects fall into the ocean.

The report said divers searched two days for the output shaft and tail rotor blades, both missing from the crash site, but were unable to find the parts and had to suspend their search at Tunnel Beach due to surf conditions.

The Hughes 500 helicopter was flying 50 feet from shore and 1,000 feet above ground level at about 80 knots, the report said. The aircraft crashed into trees and terrain at the camp.

The accident occurred four days after a Heli-USA Airways helicopter crashed just miles away, killing four people including the pilot, after reporting hydraulics failures.