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Santa Clarita copter crash kills one on ground
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More from Breaking NewsSANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) — A gust of wind caused a helicopter to spiral out of control on Wednesday in a canyon area north of Los Angeles, killing a man on the ground, authorities said.
The crash left the helicopter broken in half. The debris was next to what appeared to be a fuel truck but there was no fire.
The helicopter was contracted by Southern California Edison to string power lines between poles in the area of Bouquet Canyon when a wind gust hit it shortly after 9:30 a.m., Los Angeles County fire Inspector Frank Garrido said.
"It was hovering above the ground. A gust of wind made the helicopter spiral," and the blade struck a man on the ground, Garrido said.
The pilot suffered minor injuries but refused to go to a hospital, Garrido added.
The identities of the victims were not immediately released.
Garrido said the Fire Department report stated the dead man was an Edison employee, but utility spokesman Steve Conroy said the victim was employed by the company operating the helicopter.
"It was not an Edison employee," he said.
The helicopter was owned by Swanson Group Aviation LLC of Grants Pass, Ore.
"We have no comment at this time," said a woman who answered the phone at company headquarters.
The helicopter was being used on a project to string new transmission lines to bring in power from wind farms in the Tehachapi Mountains area, Edison spokeswoman Gil Alexander said.
"It's a tragedy," he said of the accident.
The crash was not expected to interfere with the project, he added.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on December 17, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't think it was that windy.. But I guess just a gush of wind is enough to loose control. My deepest condolences to the Mans family who was killed and prayers also for the pilot. What a terrible tragedy!
Posted by RobINhood on December 17, 2008 at 3:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My condolonces to the family of the person that died. Such a tragic accident!
Winds in the Santa Clarita area are just like the winds in the desert, strong and gusty.
Posted by handyhood on December 17, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! Struck by a blade. This reminds me of when Vic Morrow was killed when filming the twilight zone movie. This is not a pretty way to die! Unfortunately the company only gets paid when the bird is in the air. They should not have been flying today if it was as windy in Santa Clarita as it was in Camarillo this morning.
Posted by nojustice_justus on December 17, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My exact thoughts CD101-
And Anna-were you there? It probably wasn't too windy sitting behind your PC.
The nature of winds in canyons and how they affect the aeronautics of a helicopter is tricky business.
Condolences to the family of the victim. Horrific event.
Posted by brotherfromanothermother on December 17, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmm..
Posted by incyncountry on December 17, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
annawho it was very windy out here in scv u tend to assume a lot on diffrent issues i've read a lot of ur comments u put ur foot in ur mouth alot ... so if u dont know dont post !
Posted by just_saying on December 17, 2008 at 10:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i only know of gusts of wind. i've never encountered a gush.*
*ahem, annawhaat
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