Yesterday's fatal crash for Heli USA Airways was its second in 18 months on Kaua'i, and came as a blow to a company that promotes itself as having premier helicopters flown by experienced pilots and serviced under strict guidelines.

The Las Vegas-based helicopter tour company advertises how much it pays for its Aerospatiale AS350 A-Star helicopters — $1 million each — and notes that its pilots are only hired if they can demonstrate a veteran flying record.

"Heli USA only employs highly experienced tour pilots whose average flight time is over 5,000 hours," the company's Web site notes under the heading "Your Safety Is Our Mission."

"Quality control and factory-trained FAA-certified technicians are also employed on premises for ongoing maintenance programs."

Its safety focus includes requiring two mechanics to sign off on each maintenance check when the Federal Aviation Administration only requires one, the company said.

The two crashes in Kaua'i are the only fatal accidents the company has experienced in more than 10 years of operations.

Heli USA set up shop on Kaua'i in late 2000 after successfully establishing Grand Canyon helicopter tours from Las Vegas.

The first Kaua'i crash left three people dead. On Sept. 23, 2005, an Aerospatiale AS350BA helicopter operated by Heli USA Airways crashed into the ocean several hundred feet off the coast of Kailiu Point near Ha'ena on Kaua'i. The helicopter was unable to navigate bad weather and plunged into the sea.

PILOT ERROR IN '05 CRASH

The National Transportation Safety Board issued a report on that accident last month, faulting the pilot for continuing the tour in a heavy downpour. It said contributing factors were the FAA's lack of surveillance of operating restrictions and that there was nothing wrong mechanically with the aircraft.

In response to the report, Heli USA again expressed its condolences to the crash victims' families and defended its safety stance.

"It is particularly upsetting for all of us as our company's number one priority has — and will always be — flight safety, and this is the first serious accident the company has had after safely carrying more than 1 million passengers," the company said in a statement issued last month.

"From the investigation, our helicopter had no mechanical problems, company policies were appropriate and the helicopter was equipped with government-required safety equipment, including personal flotation devices."

The company didn't respond to a message left at its Kaua'i office yesterday afternoon and faxed a two-paragraph statement to The Advertiser after its Las Vegas headquarters was contacted.

"Our sincere condolences go out to all involved," the company said in the statement yesterday. "We are working with the investigative authorities in charge to determine exactly what happened."

'VERY EXPERIENCED'

Nigel Turner, Heli USA's president and chief executive officer, told The Associated Press that the pilot in yesterday's crash was "very experienced." Turner defended the safety of his helicopters, saying he would not hesitate to put his own family aboard one.

"The company has flown over a million passengers. This is our second accident in a million people," he said.

A check of FAA quarterly enforcement records shows the company was fined $3,300 for a maintenance infraction in 2005. The company also had some minor flight infractions in 1999 and 2004 on the Mainland, a check of records shows.

Heli USA Airways says it is the largest helicopter sightseeing company in the Western U.S., and has operations on Kaua'i and O'ahu, according to its Web site. The company also has flights over Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, carrying more than 120,000 people annually on its tours.

The company operates out of the Princeville, Lihu'e and Ho-nolulu airports with a fleet of 12 A-Star helicopters. According to a 2002 TravelAge West article, Heli USA entered the Hawai'i market six years ago when it purchased the assets of Hawaiian Helicopters on Kaua'i. In 2003, it expanded with helicopter tours on O'ahu.

Reach Greg Wiles at gwiles@honoluluadvertiser.com.