LIHU’E — Helicopter pilot Luca Rostagna considers himself lucky to be alive after surviving an emergency landing that turned would-be rescuers into those in need of rescue. Sunday afternoon, he was flying an Inter-Island Helicopters craft with three Kaua’i County
LIHU’E — Helicopter pilot Luca Rostagna considers himself lucky to be alive after surviving an emergency landing that turned would-be rescuers into those in need of rescue.
Sunday afternoon, he was flying an Inter-Island Helicopters craft with three Kaua’i County Fire Department rescue specialists on their way into Hanakoa Valley in Na Pali Coast State Park to extract an injured hiker when the engine failure warning light and horn activated about 500 feet off the ground.
Rostagna said he performed his first-ever autorotation maneuver in an actual emergency situation, apparently with textbook precision. The quartet walked away from the along the slope of a wooded valley with only minor injuries after a tail-first crash landing.
Rostagna has practiced the drill countless times.
“Good training was a big part of it, but good luck is always good to have, too,” said Rostagna, who quickly replied “sure” when asked if he felt lucky to he alive.
“Under the conditions, that was the best I could have done,” said Rostagna, who with Fire Department Capt. Colin Wilson and fire chief David Sproat appeared at a press conference at Lihu’e Civic Center yesterday.
Wilson and rescue specialists Roy Constantino and Mason Chock were on board during the incident, which is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Wilson said the experience makes him feel safer in a rescue helicopter, and added there would be no hesitation the next time he has to take flight for a rescue.
“Losing total engine power at 500 feet and walking away is amazing,” said Wilson.
During the emergency landing, the Fire Department personnel remained calm, which Sproat attributed to their training.
“My lucky passengers,” Rostagna said. “There was no sign of panic. Everyone was under control. They did a great job.”
The situation affirmed the county’s decision to retain Inter-Island Helicopters as the county’s search and rescue contract carrier. The company’s safety record remains spotless, Sproat said, because no one was injured in the incident.
Describing the incident, Rostagna explained in detail the steps he took to try to troubleshoot when the engine failure light and horn came on, while the craft descended, and how the decision was made to land the helicopter on the side of Hanalei Valley when it became evident he couldn’t make it to the bottom of the valley.
The biggest disappointment for Wilson and the other rescuers was not being able to carry out the mission, Wilson said. The female hiker, who suffered an injured ankle, was rescued by another Fire Department crew and Inter-Island Helicopter pilot Monday morning and taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Still, Wilson said he was grateful that Rostagna “brought us down safely.”
On the other end of the rescue line this time, Rostagna said he was impressed with the coordination of the Fire Department and the Coast Guard in reaching the downed rescuers.
Sproat said fire battalion chief Bob Kaden played a pivotal role in getting the Coast Guard to dispatch a rescue helicopter from O’ahu, which plucked the foursome out of the valley just before sunset.
Equipped with a cellular telephone, the Fire Department rescue personnel were able to call their families and let them know they were all right, before the Coast Guard helicopter arrived, said Wilson.
Rostagno’s call to Ken D’Attilio, owner of Inter-Island Helicopters, was a relatively painless one, but the one to his parents in Italy was a bit more nerve-racking, he said.
Efforts to salvage the helicopter were expected to commence yesterday. Rostagna said he had no idea if the helicopter was a total loss after the emergency landing.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
