Copter Stringing Wire Crash Lands; Pilot Uninjured
A pilot from Colorado escaped unhurt Tuesday when his helicopter crashed while stringing high-tension wiring for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in a rugged section of the Angeles National Forest near Palmdale.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Vince Bogdanich said pilot Gordy Winfree, an employee of Helicopters International of Fort Collins, told investigators the Hughes 500D helicopter was over rugged terrain when its engine suddenly began to lose power and it made a “hard landing” on uneven ground.
Bogdanich said most of the damage, which was estimated at $150,000, occurred when one of the helicopter’s skids broke and the machine rolled over on its side.
Other workers nearby called for help, but by the time rescue crews arrived, Winfree had walked to a roadway, Bogdanich said. He was treated for minor scrapes and cuts, but did not require hospitalization.
Cause of the crash will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
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