Originally published at 8:09 p.m. PT, August 16, 2015; updated at 10:54 p.m. PT, August 16, 2015)
A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter made a “hard landing” Sunday while assisting with the Lincoln Fire near the Rio Hondo River in Montebello, California. The Department PIO announced that “All crew members on board are ok”.
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported, “Three people on board suffered possible neck and back injuries, but none that appeared to be major”. The newspaper also reported that news footage showed an object resembling a tail rotor on the ground near the helicopter.
In the image above from NBC Los Angeles the helicopter appears to be missing the tail rotor as it sits upright in a cemetery.
ABC7 said that the helicopter lost engine power, according to Federal Aviation Administration officials.
Below is a file photo taken by LA Co FD of one of their helicopters.
On August 14 another helicopter made a hard landing while working on the Cabin Fire in southern California.
Wow probably know you guys hope all are ok. Retired LA CO FD
I’m glad the crew is ok. From the photo I saw looked like the tail rotor left the aircraft. The pilot did an excellent job getting the ship to the ground.
One of the main rotor blades looks damaged as well.