Crash Probe Uncovers Problems

Investigation of the weekend collision in the air over San Pedro of two commuter helicopters, which killed one man and injured 11 other people, has turned up “several safety problem areas,” and steps have been taken to correct them, a federal official said Monday.

Gary Mucho, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Los Angeles office, declined to be specific about what has been done.

Meanwhile, both air taxi companies--Helitrans Inc. and Island Express Inc. of Long Beach--were making regular flights to and from Santa Catalina Island on Monday.

Hossein Habibi, 28, of Glendale was killed when two Bell Long-Ranger helicopters collided Saturday afternoon while maneuvering to land at Catalina Air and Sea Terminal. Ashley Puma, 7 months, was reported in serious condition, but “improving,” at Memorial Medical Center in Long Beach, and John Moore and Susan Bucket were in stable condition at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Mucho said safety board investigators are looking closely into the operational procedures of both air taxi lines and into the Federal Aviation Administration’s surveillance of their operations. They also are scrutinizing the training and radio procedures of the firms and the certification of the heliport. Helitrans and Island Express lease the property from the Port of Los Angeles and operate the private heliport on a permit from the state Division of Aeronautics.