Helicopter Makes Forced Landing on Pacoima Street

For the third time in one week, an aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on a busy roadway near a San Fernando Valley airport, again narrowly averting tragedy.

On Saturday at 3:40 p.m., a helicopter that had just taken off from Pacoima’s Whiteman Airpark had to make a “hard landing” on Osborne Street, a busy four-lane road adjacent to the airfield. There were no injuries.

The helicopter, which was severely damaged, landed a few yards from power lines, cars and Roger Jessup Park, filled with dozens of children and adults.

“It looked like the copter was going to come down on us . . . instead he went for the street,” said Blanca Moreira, 30, who was celebrating a birthday at the park. “Thank God--it could have been bad with all the kids here.”

The helicopter was piloted by Los Angeles resident Wayne Miller, according to Sgt. Phil Smith of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division.

After guiding his Rotorway Executive 162 helicopter to an altitude of about 300 feet, Miller began to experience engine trouble and was unable to return to the airport less than a mile away. He then sought a safe place to land, he told police.

About the same time, Moreira heard a sound she said put fear in her heart, and looked up.

“It was making sputtering noises. I saw that it was heading straight toward the park,” she said. About 50 people, mostly children, were enjoying a sunny Saturday afternoon there. “Pretty soon you couldn’t even hear the sound of the engine. I think it had gone out.”

Smith said Miller could have tried landing in the park, where the grass may have cushioned his landing, but seeing the people, he chose the street instead.

Choosing Osborne Street meant Miller had to avoid cars and power lines.

“The guy was courageous, and he was lucky too,” said Smith, who noted that the helicopter’s landing skids and cabin were severely damaged.

“We’re fortunate because we could have had some serious trouble here,” Smith said.

On June 19, a single-engine plane trying to land at Van Nuys Airport was forced to touch down on the northbound Golden State Freeway near San Fernando Mission Boulevard after experiencing engine trouble.

On Wednesday, a small charter plane headed for Van Nuys Airport was forced to land on Hayvenhurst Avenue. Before stopping, the plane clipped two school buses filled with children. Sunshine Airlines, the charter company, issued a statement that the plane had had instrument trouble earlier in the day.

No one was seriously hurt in either of those incidents.

After Saturday’s helicopter landing, Moreira said she rushed to the pilot’s aid, accompanied by a throng of curious children. Miller, she said, sat in the helicopter for about a minute and then got out, appearing dazed and shocked.

Within minutes firetrucks and police from the Foothill Division, which is just blocks from the scene, arrived. As Miller talked to police, fuel leaked from the helicopter onto the pavement..

Fire crews doused the fuel with water and began to pry the helicopter apart.

Miller declined to comment about the incident.

Standing behind yellow plastic police tape, Moreira was flanked by her kids and other family members.

“He did a good thing today because he could have hit people,” she said, holding some picnic food in her hand. “When he gets a chance, I want to give him this tortilla. Maybe it’ll make him feel better.”

Times staff writer Irene Garcia contributed to this report.