Sight-Seeing Helicopter Crashes on Catalina Island

A helicopter filled with sight-seers crashed on the west coast of Santa Catalina Island on May 24, 2008, killing three people and injuring three others. The tour helicopter, a Eurocopter AS 350, operated by the Long Beach-based company Island Express, was carrying five passengers and a pilot.

The pilot, identified as Emeric Maillet, 33, of Lakewood, as well as a male and female passenger were killed instantly in the fiery crash. Three others escaped with injuries. Two were critically injured and flown to harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance. The other injured passenger was sent to County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles and is in stable condition.

The helicopter had left Island Express’ Long Beach heliport, located near the Queen Mary, at around 8:30 on Saturday morning, after picking up five passengers. Less than an hour later, the aircraft crashed in a grassy area about 200 to 300 feet inland near the town of Two Harbors. Witness accounts reported that flames were coming out of the exhaust pipe as it flew over the water before crashing near the Two Harbors’ Banning House Lodge. The crash caused a fire that burned the helicopter beyond recognition. The weather was overcast, but there were no reports of heavy rain or high winds.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident. Investigators said weather was not a factor and are still not sure what caused the crash, though early speculation points to engine failure. The aircraft’s turboshaft engine, believed to have played a large part in the deadly crash, was recovered on Tuesday. Officials said the engine was shipped to the manufacturer, Turbomeca, for a tear-down analysis.

Catalina Island, located about 21 miles south of the California coast, is a very popular tourist vacation spot attracting as many as one million visitors per year. The crash happened at the beginning of the tourist season, when people come to the island to enjoy boating, snorkling and camping, amongst other popular activities.

Island Express, founded in 1982, is a family owned business that operates tours, charters and trips to Southern California and Catalina Island. According to its website, it operates four turbine helicopters and has 21 employees, including three mechanics.

Additional News About the Catalina Helicopter Crash

Whittier Daily News
May 27, 2008
Engine recovered in copter crash

The Daily Breeze
May 26, 2008
Pilot is first of 3 casualties to be ID'd in helicopter crash on Catalina Island

Los Angeles Times
May 25, 2008
3 killed, 3 hurt in helicopter crash on Catalina Island

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