A tour helicopter crash off the coast of Kauai killed three people on Thursday, July 11, 2024. The fatal crash took place shortly before 1:20 p.m. local time. Hikers along the Kalalau Trail witnessed the Robinson R44 helicopter, operated by Ali‘i Kaua‘i Air Tours and Charters, plunge into the ocean approximately a quarter-mile off the Na Pali Coast.
According to WCPO, 53-year-old Amy Quintua of Union, Kentucky, was unresponsive when lifeguards recovered her from the water approximately an hour after the crash. Quintua was recovered near what appeared to be an oil slick, per Kauai County Fire Chief Michael Gibson.
Rescue efforts for two other victims aboard the chopper involved multiple agencies, including the United States Coast Guard, Kaua‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency, and the Kaua‘i Police Department. The U.S. Coast Guard and the County of Kauai suspended the search for the bodies of the remaining two victims on Sunday, July 14, 2024. The other victims were identified as 60-year-old James “Jim” Quintua, husband of Amy Quintua, and pilot Guy Croyden, 69.
The cause of the crash is currently unknown. The R44 helicopter belonged to Ali‘i Kaua‘i Air Tours and Charters, a company based in Lihue, Kauai, where the island’s main airport is located.
This incident marks the latest helicopter crash in the area. The last notable crash in Kauai occurred in 2019 when a pilot and six passengers lost their lives off the coast of Kekaha. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report, the 2019 crash occurred because the pilot proceeded with a tour despite worsening weather conditions. The pilot reportedly lost sight of the mountainous terrain before crashing.
ROBINSON R44 CRASH HISTORY
Robinson Helicopter Co. continues to face scrutiny over safety concerns, including those involving its R44 model. According to government statistics, the Robinson R44 had the highest fatal accident rate between 2006 and 2016, leading all major helicopter models.
As of July 15, 2024, the Robinson R44 helicopter has been involved in 664 incidents and accidents, including more than 30 crashes in the state of Hawaii.
The helicopter crash lawyers at Wisner Baum are actively litigating cases against Robinson Helicopter Co. Last year, our firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of clients following an R44 crash in Windwhistle, New Zealand where the helicopter lost power mid-flight. Another case against Robinson stems from a 2021 crash in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, that killed the pilot and the passenger.
See more information about Wisner Baum’s helicopter crash case history against Robinson on this page.
WHAT CAUSED THE KAUAI HELICOPTER CRASH?
It will be some time before we know the cause of the crash that killed pilot Guy Croyden and Amy and Jim Quintua. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is the government agency that will investigate the cause of this crash. In our experience, the NTSB investigation could take up to two years to complete.
In the NTSB preliminary report on the Kauai crash, the agency indicated that witnesses on a hike in the area at the time of the crash felt “a ‘huge’ and sudden gust of wind…which was followed by a very loud ‘bang’ noise.”
Per the NTSB:
“As their attention was drawn to the source of the loud noise, they saw the helicopter wreckage freefalling into the ocean in two sections, a main fuselage section, and the tail boom section. The witnesses said that the helicopter wreckage sank moments after striking the water, about one-quarter of a mile offshore.”
The U.S. Coast Guard found the downed R44’s tail boom at a depth of 77 feet but has not yet recovered the main fuselage.
“Robinson helicopters have a checkered history of safety lapses involving its fuel system, rotor issues, controllability, and more,” says helicopter crash lawyer Timothy A. Loranger, a pilot and Marine Corps. veteran who worked as an aircraft mechanic in the military. “This tragedy renews our concerns that Robinson helicopters crash more than any other manufacturer, and when they crash, the outcomes are often devastating. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this difficult time.”
KAUAI CRASH VICTIMS IDENTIFIED AS AMY QUINTUA, JIM QUINTUA, AND GUY CROYDEN
Amy and Jim Quintua: Family members say Amy Quintua, 53, and James (Jim) Quintua, 60, “were soulmates.” While the Quintuas lived in Kentucky, Jim was a Molokai native, and the couple regularly traveled to Hawaii to visit family.
Amy Quintua’s sister-in-law told the media that the Quintuas “were one of those couples that you would look at and be in awe of their love for each other. We loved Jim and his family as if he had always been part of the family."
Guy Croyden: Mr. Croyden was an experienced aviator who worked as a bush pilot in Alaska, a Captain at Aloha Airlines, a Civil Air Patrol mission pilot, and an aerospace education officer throughout his 45-year career. His flying experience included 7,000 hours of helicopter time and 40,000 hours of fixed-wing time.
In addition to his aviation experience, Croyden was a well-known fixture in the Kauai community who touched many lives as a coach, instructor, and mentor. He was also an artist, musician, sailor, surfer, and gardener.
KAUAI TOUR HELICOPTER CRASH ATTORNEYS
The helicopter crash attorneys at Wisner Baum have decades of experience representing victims of preventable helicopter crashes, including tourism operations on the islands of Hawaii. According to government data, more than 56 tour helicopters have crashed in Hawaii since 1985. At least 23 of these helicopter crashes caused serious injuries or fatalities.
To speak with an experienced helicopter crash lawyer about your case, give us a call today at 855-948-5098 or fill out our case evaluation form. Wisner Baum offers free case consultations, and we represent victims of helicopter crashes on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win.
