Posted at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, May 31, 2007
Non-fatal helicopter crash caused by failed part
Advertiser Staff
KAHULUI, Maui - Fatigue cracking and failure of the tail rotor control rod during flight forced the pilot of a tour helicopter to make an emergency landing at Kahului Airport on Oct. 14, 2005, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report on the cause of the incident.None of the five people aboard the Alex Air Hughes 369D helicopter were injured and the aircraft sustained minor damage, said the report, which was released this week.
The pilot told investigators he declared an emergency when tail rotor control was lost. As he set up for a sliding landing onto the heliport tarmac and was 5 to 10 feet above the ground, a gust of wind forced the helicopter to fishtail and begin a 360-degree rotation. The helicopter contacted the ground and spun around before coming to a stop in an upright position.
Due to damage, it was not possible to determine whether the crack would have been visible during the last inspection, the report said.
