Pilot And Passenger Walked Away, But Aircraft Tail Rotor Is Missing

Normally, a "hard landing" would not likely be an event that would make the news ... but when it's a helicopter missing its tail rotor and part of the boom ... well that's pretty noteworthy. And the best news is the pilot and passenger aboard the Cochise County, AZ sheriff's department helicopter walked away from the "hard landing" southwest of Tombstone, AZ Friday morning.

Television station KTVK reports, and sheriff's office photographs confirm, that the helicopter was missing its tail rotor, but it was not clear when the boom separated.

Pilot Larry Pucci landed the Bell 406 L4, which the department leased from Glendale, AZ-based Airwest Helicopters in conjunction with the Sierra Vista, AZ police department, in a clearing after flying out to check out a report of a brush fire in the Palominas area. The fire turned out to be part of a controlled burn.

The aircraft then returned to Sierra Vista airport where it is based, and took off again. The next landing was in the clearing sans tail rotor.

The tail rotor was not at the landing site and as of this writing still has not been located. Airwest Helicopters reportedly had a replacement aircraft available for the two law enforcement agencies available on Saturday.

(Image provided by the Cochise County Sheriff)

FMI: www.cochise.az.gov/sheriff