Sunday, February 05, 2012

Helicopter makes emergency landing at Modesto elementary school, California. (With Video)

Modesto Bee 
A private helicopter made an emergency landing on El Vista Elementary School's playground after fueling at the Modesto Airport, Sunday morning. Feb. 5, 2012

Modesto Bee
A private helicopter made an emergency landing on El Vista Elementary School's playground after fueling at the Modesto Airport, Sunday morning. Pilot Scott Bursey from Madera said at about 800 feet he had mechanical problems and had no place else to safely land. Neighborhood residents said the helicopter made a hard landing nearly hitting treetops and a soccer goal.

MODESTO -- A helicopter pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at a Modesto elementary school Sunday morning after the aircraft developed mechanical problems, authorities said.

Police identified the pilot as Madera resident Scott Bursey. He was not injured and did not have any passengers.

Bursey was looking at land around La Grange in eastern Stanislaus County when he decided to refuel at the Modesto Airport, Modesto police Sgt. David Chamberlain said. The helicopter developed mechanical problems and was forced to land at El Vista Elementary School, about a mile from the airport.

“I was scared,” said Susanna Ballard, who lives across the street from the school. She was standing on her sidewalk with her 2-year-old son when she said the helicopter flew over them about 11 a.m. at a low altitude.

“I was just waiting to hear the big boom,” Ballard continued. “I was waiting for everything to explode.”

Bursey landed his helicopter in the school’s field. Ballard said she called 911, grabbed her son and ran across the street. She said she could not climb the school’s chain-link fence, but saw two men do so and come to Bursey’s aid.

She said Bursey sat in the helicopter for a few minutes before getting out.

The helicopter was being hauled by truck to Madera on Sunday afternoon. Bursey declined to speak at length.

“I’m not going to discuss what I was doing up here,” he said. “I appreciate it. Thank you.”

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Web site lists a Scott Christopher Bursey of Madera as having had a private pilot’s license to fly a helicopter since 2008. Chamberlain said the FFA was notified.

“They will decide what kind of investigation, if any, will be conducted,” he said.

Modesto Regional Fire Authority firefighters also responded to the incident.

Read more here: http://www.modbee.com