Helo Makes Hard Landing In Albuquerque

A helicopter pilot believed to be on a training flight was able to walk away relatively unscathed from a hard landing Monday morning, in an Albuquerque, NM industrial park.

KRQE-13 reports the pilot departed Sandia Airpark Estates East Airport in Edgewood, NM -- about 20 miles east of Albuquerque -- Monday morning, and refueled at Double Eagle II Airport (AEG) before heading back over the city.

The pilot was reportedly hovering the Robinson R-22 Beta (type shown above) over the accident site so his brother could take pictures, when the pilot says the tail rotor experienced problems.

The helicopter came down on its side, impacting power lines as it fell onto the parking lot of a Northeast Heights business.

"We were just standing around talking," Mike Salmon, who owns Anderson Air Corps Heating and Cooling, told the Albuquerque Tribune. "Then suddenly, bang, pop, crash!"

Anderson employee Margaret Turner and approximately 25 others from surrounding businesses ran to assist the pilot. One cut him free of the seatbelt, and pulled him free of the helicopter.

"He seemed to be unconscious, but then he started moving," said Turner. "He kept saying, 'I want out. I want out.'"

Josh Turner, Margaret's son, witnessed the accident unfold.

"It was swerving," he said, "tilting side to side. It was a really small helicopter. I saw it hit the power lines, and there was all this popping, and then what sounded like an explosion."

The pilot, whose name was not released, was able to walk around shortly after the crash, and was not taken to the hospital.

"The guy was OK," Josh Turner said. "He had hardly any scratches. I couldn't believe it."

The accident knocked out power to approximately 1,100 homes in the area, according to the Public Service Company of New Mexico.

FMI: www.faa.gov