The Private Temptation
Operators like Mauna Loa Helicopters and Ali’i Kauai Air Tours offer a tempting proposition: a private tour for roughly the same price as a shared seat on a big helicopter.
They achieve this by using the Robinson R44.
The Safety Risk: “Mast Bumping”
The R44 uses a “teetering” two-blade rotor system. In low-G conditions (which can happen during turbulence on the windy Na Pali coast), the fuselage can tilt independently of the rotor disc. If the pilot corrects incorrectly, the rotor hub can strike the mast. This is often catastrophic.
The July 2024 Incident
On July 11, 2024, an Ali’i Kauai R44 crashed into the ocean, killing three people. Reports suggest the aircraft encountered a “huge gust of wind” before breaking apart.
Our Verdict
While private tours are romantic, the safety margin of a piston-engine R44 is structurally lower than a turbine-engine EC130. We strongly advise opting for the turbine operators (Blue Hawaiian, Jack Harter, Island) even if it means sharing the cabin.