Neighbors Hadn't Cleared His House As An LZ

37-year-old Sean Wagner has been cited for violating local codes for landing a helicopter in his back yard in Davie, Florida. While some of Wagner's neighbors said they didn't care about the flights, which have been occurring since Wagner got a student pilot license in March, others felt it was dangerous.

File Photo

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that, after a neighbor's complaint Thursday, police found a blue Robinson R44 near Wagner's home in Davie, and cited him for violating local residential codes. It is unclear whether Wagner or another pilot was flying the helicopter at the time of the landing.

Wagner declined comment on the advice of his attorney.

The FAA does not expressly prohibit helicopter operations in residential areas, though FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said they must be done occasionally and safely. Local municipalities are free to enact their own restrictions for residential areas, she said. While the FAA will investigate this accident, Bergen told the paper that Wagner's flights had been looked at earlier this year, and were not found to be in violation of any FAR's. Bergen did say helicopter pilots must maintain a reasonable, safe distance from buildings, trees and power lines.

FMI: www.faa.gov