Hirono
Demands Action Following Deadly Helicopter Crash
Sen. Mazie Hirono recently sent letters to Robert L. Sumwalt, Chairman of the
National Transportation Safety Board, and Dan Elwell, the Acting Administrator
at the Federal Aviation Administration, over safety concerns following a deadly
helicopter crash in a residential area of Kailua, Oʻahu.
On the morning of April 29, an air tour helicopter operated by Novictor
Helicopters crashed on Oneawa Street in Kailua, resulting in the death of the
pilot and two passengers. The NTSB is leading the investigation into the crash,
while the FAA is responsible for setting the regulations for the operation of
the helicopters.
In her letters to both Chairman Sumwalt and Administrator Elwell, Sen. Hirono
asked both the FAA and NTSB for a report of helicopter accidents in Hawaiʻi over the last five
years. She also requested a detailed history of problems associated with the
particular model of aircraft involved in the crash, the Robinson R44, as well
as an account of all air tour accidents and unintended landings in Hawaiʻi. The full text of Sen.
Hirono's letter to Chairman Sumwalt is available online.
"I understand that two NTSB investigators are in Hawaiʻi and that your agency
expects to issue a preliminary accident report this week, but the final report
will identify the causes of the accident," Hirono wrote in her letter to
Chairman Sumwalt. "In this regard, can you detail the steps of the
investigation to identify the causes of the accident and the estimated length
of time the NTSB will take to complete the final report? Can you also provide
an accounting of all air tour accidents and unintended landings in Hawaii for
the last five years, the findings, recommendations and requirements from each
of these incidents? I have separately written the Federal Aviation
Administration to find out whether there has been appropriate follow up with
the air tour companies/industry in each instance."
"Although causation has yet to be determined in this instance, it is my
understanding that the NTSB has previously issued a number of safety
recommendations to the FAA regarding the Robinson R44 model of helicopter that
was involved in the April 29 crash. The Los Angeles Times wrote a story on
November 18, 2018, entitled 'Danger Spins from the Sky,' that specifically
identifies safety issues with the R44 relating to mast bumping and
non-fortification of fuel tanks. I ask that the FAA provide my office with
information regarding the safety recommendations made to FAA by NTSB related to
the R44 helicopter, and any actions taken by the FAA to respond to NTSB's
safety recommendations," Hirono wrote in her letter to Administrator
Elwell.
Sen. Hirono called for the FAA to take action to protect the public from
similar incidents in the future, adding that Hawaiʻi residents must also have
a chance to provide input on potential future regulations for air tour
operators. The full text of Sen. Hirono's letter to Administrator Elwell is
available online.
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