NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-22-011
Recommendation
TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: Install the necessary infrastructure in Hawaii to enable continuous radio communication between the pilots of low-flying tour flights and ground support personnel, such as flight service station specialists and company flight support personnel, along the most heavily trafficked air tour routes.
Safety Issue and Context
This report discusses the December 26, 2019, accident involving a seven-seat helicopter operated by Safari Aviation Inc. as a commercial air tour flight that encountered instrument meteorological conditions and collided into terrain in a remote, wooded area near Kekaha, Hawaii, on the island of Kauai. The pilot and the six passengers were fatally injured, and the helicopter was destroyed.
Safety issues identified in this report include limited ability of existing infrastructure to fully support some aviation safety-related functions needed for the safe operation of low-flying air tour flights, resulting in air tour pilots having to rely on their own in-flight visual weather assessments; absence of safety assurance processes to guide pilot decision-making; and ineffective monitoring and oversight of Hawaii air tour operators by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
As a result of this investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) makes eight new safety recommendations to the FAA, one new safety recommendation to the Vertical Aviation Safety Team, and one new safety recommendation to tour flight operators. NTSB also reiterates nine previously issued recommendations and two previously issued classified recommendations to the FAA.
Response History
April 18, 2025 · Recipient Response · FAA
-From Christopher J. Rocheleau, Acting Administrator: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed its assessments of the six Hawaiian Islands that have weather camera sites for radio coverage at 500 feet and above using physical site surveys and predictive radio propagation software.
Four of the six Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii, Lanai, Oahu, and Molokai, have radio coverage from existing FAA Remote Communication Outlets (RCO). Kauai and Maui currently lack coverage in the northwest portion of their islands, and planned RCO coverage will be added to the FAA’s Corporate Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2025.
Additionally, the FAA received $1.6 million above the budget request for fiscal year 2023 to enable continuous radio communication between the pilots of low-flying tour flights and ground support personnel and to make infrastructure improvements needed to improve coverage in mountainous terrain. We will continue to address this safety recommendation through our planned activities and provide future updates on the progress of our work.
July 3, 2024 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
We note that, due to the high cost of a standalone air/ground communications site, you are assessing six of the existing operational weather camera sites in Hawaii to determine if they can support the infrastructure needed to enable radio communications between air tour pilots and flight service station specialists. Pending our review of your findings and a plan for completing the recommended action, Safety Recommendation A-22-11 remains classified OPEN-- ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.
September 6, 2023 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
On August 4, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the publication of draft Advisory Circular (AC) 136-B048, Supplemental Information for the Creation of Operating Procedures and Pilot Training Subjects Related to OpSpec [operations specification]/LOA [letter of authorization] B048, and invited public comment on the document. The NTSB has a longstanding interest in air tour safety in the state of Hawaii, having investigated numerous Hawaii air tour accidents and issued many related safety recommendations and we offer our comments below.