LIHUE — A Kauai helicopter company has filed suit in 5th Circuit Court against another flight company for damages that occurred in a recovery operation. The plaintiff, Kauai-based Jack Harter Helicopters, which operates out of Lihue, filed a civil complaint
LIHUE — A Kauai helicopter company has filed suit in 5th Circuit Court against another flight company for damages that occurred in a recovery operation.
The plaintiff, Kauai-based Jack Harter Helicopters, which operates out of Lihue, filed a civil complaint against Maui-based Pacific Helicopter Tours on Oct. 22, 2014. Both are Hawaii corporations.
Harter is represented by Keith Kiraoka and William Nagle III of the law firm of Roeca Luria Hiraoka LLP.
The complaint involves one of Jack Harter’s helicopters, which was contracted to deliver passengers and cargo to a remote, hilly location on Grove Farm property on Jan. 14.
After the successful landing and disembarking of passengers and gear, the helicopter slid off of the landing pad.
Pacific Helicopter Tours agreed to lift the helicopter from its precarious position on the edge of the landing pad and fly the helicopter back to the Haiku Airstrip, a privately owned pad on Grove Farm land near Puhi.
Pacific sent a helicopter equipped for the lift along with a pilot.
In performing the lift, Harter claims Pacific breached its agreement for safe transport by violating FAA regulations and exceeding recommended speeds for lifting aircraft.
Harter is suing for negligence and damages to the main rotor blades and rotor assembly that was caused from oscillations and flapping of the blades due to excessive air speed of the lift.
He is also suing for the loss of profits that occurred as a result of damages and lost of use of the helicopter.
There have been no appearances or hearings yet in this case.
