Volunteer Finally Managed To Liberate The Aircraft From The Clutches Of 'Lady Justice'

A remote-controlled quadcopter (similar device pictured in file photo) being operated by a photographer working on a promotional video for the city of Marion, OH, Saturday evening was caught in a wind gust and blown into the arms of a statue called "Lady Justice" which stands atop the Marion County Courthouse. The aircraft lodged in the statue's arms about 100 feet above the ground, and photographer Terry Cline had no way to retrieve his expensive equipment.

City officials were not interested in footing the bill to hire a crane to pluck the aircraft from the statue, and Cline's suggestion that someone rappel from a helicopter and grab the aircraft were met with a decided lack of enthusiasm. Sheriff Tim Bailey, who is a licensed helicopter pilot, told the Columbus Dispatch it was no different that someone crashing a car into the courthouse. "We took a report. We're done," he said.

But help came in the form a volunteer from a company for which he has done work in the past. The county allowed someone from Midsate Contractors to climb up in to the bell tower of the courthouse, lean out of a window, and snag the wayward aircraft with an extension pole equipped with a hook.

The rescue was done quietly. Cline said that it was likely that the county did not want big crowd gathered below the statue early Sunday morning when it took place. The quadcopter suffered some damage to its rotors, but the camera was intact. Cline said the accident provided some up-close footage of the deteriorating condition of the statue, which he said the county commissioners might find useful some day. But, he said, since they would not do much to help him retrieve his aircraft, "I might just need some remuneration now."

FMI: www.co.marion.oh.us