Helicopter crash investigation underway in Brunswick County

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a helicopter crashed at the Cape Fear Regional Jetport, sending the pilot to the hospital.

It happened around 9:30 a.m. as the pilot was attempting to land an R44, a four-seat light helicopter.

Airport Director, Howie Franklin, says the pilot, who is a student with hours of flying experience, was attempting to land the helicopter when he lost control around 50 feet off the ground.

The chopper landed in grass, not on the landing strip, and tipped over, trapping the pilot inside by blocking the exit.

Franklin says the pilot was briefly trapped when the helicopter flipped over, but was rescued by quick-thinking airport crews.

“They all showed up, and that was a good saving factor for this gentleman,” said Franklin. “They were able to, what I heard, rip the door off, get him out, and I think that’s a wonderful thing.”

Franklin says the jetport has more than 72,000 landings and take offs a year, but crashes are extremely rare.