Robinson R-22 Struck Power Lines Near LA Freeway

A rented Robinson R-22 helicopter (erroneously listed as an R-44 Astro by the FAA -- Ed.) crashed while enroute from El Monte Airport to Torrance Municipal Airport late Friday evening.

Shortly before 11 pm, the unidentified pilot was flying near the 110 Harbor Freeway and Century Boulevard when the helicopter (file photo of type, above) caught power lines and crashed into the southbound lanes of the freeway, reports The Daily Breeze.

The California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles firefighting units arrived to find the wreckage burning. The pilot died at the scene.

The Coroner's Office had not yet identified the pilot as of late Saturday. The man was so badly burned that dental records may be required to identify him, an official said Saturday.

The power lines were not damaged, and no one on the ground was hurt. Wreckage was scattered across the freeway lanes.

The southbound freeway was closed until 4:20 am Saturday morning while emergency crews cleared the scene.

The pilot was the sole occupant of the helicopter. The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules.

Weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be 51 degrees under partly cloudy skies, visibility 10 miles with northeast winds from five to eight mph. Barometric pressure was 30.20 and the dewpoint was 46 degrees.

The helicopter was owned by JJ Helicopters of Torrance.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 705JJ        Make/Model: R44       Description: R-44 Astro
  Date: 01/26/2008     Time: 0659

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: LOS ANGELES   State: CA   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  HELICOPTER STRUCK POWER LINE AND CRASHED ON TO 110 FREEWAY AND CENTURY
  BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: METAR KLAX 260650Z 03004KT 10SM FEW 021 SCT 065 11/08 A3020

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: LOS ANGELES, CA  (WP23)               Entry date: 01/28/2008

FMI: www.faa.gov