San Diego

The pilot killed in the helicopter that crashed aboard a tuna boat Wednesday died from burns and smoke inhalation, Deputy San Diego Corner Penne Hammerstead said Thursday.

Although the cause of the crash is still under investigation, pilot error is being blamed for the accident.

Hammerstead said that Cyril Ronald (Bud) Ladwig, 54, of San Marcos, who had 13 years of flying experience, failed to release the tie-downs on the right side of the copter before attempting to take off from the boat, which was at the 10th Avenue pier.

“There is still nothing to attributed the crash to anything other than pilot error,” said Hammerstead. “He failed to release the tie-downs on the right side. Upon takeoff the rear tie-down broke as the copter was attempting to gain altitude, but the front tie-downs remained attached and brought the copter back to the ground.”

Hammerstead said that helicopters are commonly used on large fishing boats to locate fishing areas.

The Chac Mool, based in Ensenada, had been docked in San Diego since Jan. 5 for routine repairs, said William Garrett, marine operations manager for the San Diego Unified Port District.

Hammerstead said that Ladwig had performed a routine “300-hour service inspection” of the helicopter and brought it back to the ship on Tuesday, noting that the helicopter was running sluggishly.

Ladwig had decided to let the helicopter sit for a day to determine if a new battery was needed. He returned Wednesday to test the battery when the fatal accident occurred, Hammerstead said.

The accident was the second at the 10 Avenue pier in four years.

In 1984, Walter McMeen, 58, a helicopter mechanic, was killed and the pilot critically injured on a docked tuna boat when the helicopter’s blade struck a crane and then ripped through the cockpit.