Tour Helicopter Crash In Hawaii Kills 1

Sunday, March 11th 2007, 8:18 pm

By: News On 6

HANEA, Hawaii (AP) _ One person was killed and three people were seriously injured in a tour helicopter crash Sunday on Kauai, the second fatal helicopter accident on the island in four days, authorities say.

The crash occurred at about 1 p.m., shortly after the pilot heard a loud bang and lost control of the aircraft near the island's north shore, Federal Aviation Administration officials said.

The helicopter, owned by Smoky Mountain Helicopters Inc., struck some trees with its main rotor blade, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said in an e-mail.

There were five people on board the Hughes 500 helicopter including the pilot, who was uninjured.

A tour helicopter crash on Thursday at Princeville Airport killed three passengers and the pilot. Three others were injured.