By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The National Transportation Safety Board said that the fatal 2019 helicopter accident in Hawaii was caused by the inaction and failure of U.S. safety regulators.

Safari Aviation operated a seven-seat Airbush AS350 B2 helicopter. It crashed in poor weather conditions in remote terrain close to Kekaha (Hawaii), killing both the pilot and six of its passengers. The highly skilled, 69-year old air tour pilot was flying into mountainous terrain that was obscured by fog and low clouds. It wasn’t possible to see the exit point.

The NTSB cited the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) “delayed implementation of a Hawaii aviation weather camera program, its lack of leadership in the development of a (specialized) weather training program for Hawaii air tour pilots, and its ineffective monitoring and oversight of Hawaii air tour operators’ weather-related operating practices” as a contributing factor in the accident.

Jennifer Homendy (NTSB Chair) stated, “The FAA should lead safety. They shouldn’t cede their responsibility towards the industry that is charged with regulating or supervising them.” We know the FAA does not provide the leadership necessary because we continue to see accidents such as this.

11 safety suggestions were reiterated by the NTSB to FAA.

A FAA spokesperson stated that the agency took “these suggestions seriously”. The FAA installed five weather cameras in Hawaii, with 21 more on the way. Additionally, he stated that they encourage “air tour operators” to install ADS-B and flight recorders on their planes and were looking at making them mandatory.

Homendy pointed out that the NTSB investigated 282 air-tour accidents across the country, and 41 in Hawaii, since 1997.

Investigators found that the lack of current weather information likely played a role in the pilot’s decision not to stop flying in poor visibility. In 2007, the NTSB recommended that the FAA create and demand specialized inflight meteorology training for Hawaii-based air tour operators.