A mosquito control helicopter went out on September 3rd to spray for larva near New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, but something went wrong. The helicopter crashed near a grove of trees on private land, but the rescuers had no idea where to start looking.
How Did Rescuers Find the Helicopter Crash?
The pilot, a 20 year veteran of the U.S. Army and pilot of Black Hawk helicopters, managed a daring emergency landing. Luckily, he had his cellphone with him, and he placed a call to Volusia County Mosquito Control administration, which immediately called rescuers. However, nobody knew the exact location of the crash.
“We were turning our sirens on to see if he could hear them,” The Deputy Chief of Volusia County Fire Rescue tells local reporters. “He was able to give us more of a location so we could zoom in on him.”
First responders were also able to ping the pilot’s cellphone to narrow their search area. When they finally arrived they found that the veteran had not only managed to call for help but had also crawled his way out of the wreckage. He was taken to the hospital with surprisingly minor injuries.
Do Helicopter Crashes Happen Often?
The chopper was one of the older models used by the mosquito control agency, and the FAA and the NTSB have been called in to investigate the crash, but the agency has been very busy recently. With the Black Hawk crash off our coast, and a recent crash in Forest Grove, Oregon, the agency has their hands full, and that’s why victims need an attorney to help investigate crashes.
These helicopter crashes can cause debilitating injuries and death, and depending on the cause of the accidents, victims might be entitled to restitution. The attorneys at Colson Hicks Eidson have experience helping the victims of aviation accidents get the compensation they need. See our helicopter crashes page for more information, and keep following our blog for the latest news.
Colson Hicks Eidson—Injury Attorneys