The Los Angeles Fire Department’s newest helicopter may have made an uncommanded movement before hitting trees resulted in a crash landing in a nearby football field.
According to a news report published the Los Angeles Times, the National Transportation Safety board issued a report on Thursday say in the pilot, who was conducting water drops on a wildland fire, reported the aircraft made a uncommanded yaw to the right and descent increase.
The movement forced caused the pilot to lose control and hit trees, the newspaper reported. The pilot reported he was descending at about 100 feet above the trees at 40 knots when the helicopter made the uncommanded movements. The pilot released the water and regained control before making an emergency landing in a football field.
The Leonardo AW139 helicopter sustained substantial damage during the Sept. 2 incident but the crew was not injured, the newspaper reported.
