NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! In a preliminary report on the crash of the
Hawaii Tour & Helicopter, the chopper experienced an "intense turmoil" and then turned uncontrollably downwards and crashed into a distant lava field. Became clear.
The June 8 crash near the Big Island of Hawaii on the Big Island of Hawaii occurred during a federal-regulated "on-demand air tour flight," with a pilot and two passengers. Was seriously injured, and the other three were seriously injured. Passengers were slightly injured, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
In the NTSB's preliminary report of the aviation accident, the operator's representative paradise helicopter told investigators that the chopper (Bell 407 helicopter, N402SH) departed around 5:01 pm. I told you. From the company's base at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport in Kona, Hawaii, we headed south for an aerial tour flight around the island in local time.
The helicopter is southeast between an altitude of about 500-600 feet and an airspeed of 122-127 knots, according to automated dependent surveillance broadcasts and company flight tracking data. Has moved.
Hawaii tour helicopter crashes on 6 lava fields
Pilots have normal first part of flight I reported that.
According to the NTSB, about 30 minutes after the flight, the helicopter "experienced a violent upset, followed by an uncontrollable yaw to the right."
This NTSB image is covered with lava Lava terrain. (National Transportation Safety Board)
A passenger sitting in the left rear front facing seat, she said while the helicopter continued to spin. Something that reported to be observed falls from the helicopter. But she couldn't identify a particular part. Flight path datafor
showed a sharp descent and slower airspeed at the end of the flight path, according to the NTSB. This is consistent with the occupant's statement.
The helicopter continued to rotate out of control during the descent, then collided with a rough, uneven, lava-covered terrain area and rested to the left.
After the collision, passengers managed to make aemergency calland reported the crash.
The helicopter smashed into large pieces hundreds of feet away when it hit the ground.
"On-site investigation of the accident site reveals that the NTSB stopped the tail boom about 762 feet northeast of the main debris consisting of the fuselage, engine, and main rotor system. According to the report. "The tail boom was separated from the fuselage at the tail boom attachment point."
This NTSB image shows the tail boom at the scene of the accident. (National Transportation Safety Board)
"There is no attachment fitting fastener on the upper left, the attachment fitting on the lower left is damaged, and I feel tired. The report continues. "There were fasteners for attachment fittings in the lower left, lower right, and upper right."
According to helicopter maintenance records, the latest tail mounting fastener torque checks totaled on May 4, 2022. Completed with an aircraft time of 22,891.4 flight hours.
At the time of the accident, the helicopter had accumulated 23,005.6 flight hours (114.2 flight hours from the torque check) and no additional maintenance was performed on its mounting position.
The tail boom was installed on August 23, 2009 with a total aircraft time of 5,780.0 hours and was not removed prior to the accident, NTSB said.
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Tail boom structure, rear fuselage structure, attachment fittings and fasteners Part of was retained for further investigation by the NTSB Materials Laboratory.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Alaska Regional Office investigators, NTSB air resistance investigators, NTSB survival investigators, and Washington, D.C. NTSB maintenance investigators have responded to the island of Hawaii. ..
Danielle Wallace is a FoxNews Digital reporter covering politics, crime, police and more. Tips for her story can be sent to danielle.wallace @ fox.com and Twitter (@danimwallace).
