HONOLULU – A helicopter pilot has been indicted on manslaughter charges for crashing a tour helicopter on Kauai’s North Shore.

Glen Lampton is believed to be the first pilot involved in a helicopter crash in Hawaii to face criminal prosecution, said Kauai First Deputy Prosecutor Richard Minatoya.

Lampton was flying the Heli USA Airways helicopter that plunged into the ocean near Haena Point on Sept. 23. Lampton and five passengers survived the crash. Three others, including Catherine Baron and Mary H. Soucy of Portland, Maine, were killed.

Lampton was indicted on seven counts: three counts of manslaughter, two counts of reckless endangering in the second degree, one count of falsification to authorities and one count of tampering with evidence. If convicted of manslaughter, he could face a maximum of 20 years in prison on each count.

Lampton plans to plead not guilty and post bail when he flies to Kauai on Jan. 13 for his arraignment, according to his attorney, Sam King Jr. Bail was set at $100,000.

Lampton still is employed by Heli USA, where he is performing administrative work.

Lampton told investigators that just before the crash, he suddenly saw another helicopter coming straight for him, made a left turn to avoid an accident and encountered heavy rain, the National Transportation Safety Board has reported.

The two surviving passengers, Karen and Bill Thorson of Beloit, Wis., have said they saw another helicopter at the time, but it was so far away they didn’t believe Lampton had to maneuver to avoid hitting it.