11/17/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, US // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Salem, OR—A pilot suffered serious injuries when the helicopter he was using to harvest trees at a Polk County Christmas tree farm crashed. The injurious aviation accident happened around 1:30 p.m. Monday, November 15, 2010, according to information provided by KPTV.
Reports indicated 41-year-old Tim Smith was piloting a helicopter and harvesting trees at the Noble Mountain Christmas Tree Farm when something went wrong. Just moments after Smith dropped a load of trees and was on his way to another field to pick up some more, the helicopter went down.
The helicopter reportedly crashed in a remote area of the farm, located on Bethel Heights Road in Salem, Ore. Bob Schaefer, general manager of the tree farm, witnessed the helicopter accident and rushed to the scene with a group of other witnesses.
Schaefer found the pilot and damaged helicopter shortly after the wreck. When referring to the aircraft, Schaefer said, “It is a mangled mess. He went in sideways.”
Smith was apparently alert when witnesses arrived at the scene. “He was moving all of his limbs, complaining of shoulder, collar bone pain. But we just kept him talking and as the time went on you could tell he was getting back to normal,” Schaefer added.
Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel airlifted Smith to Portland-based Oregon Health and Science University Hospital where doctors listed him in serious condition.
Authorities from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are expected to conduct a full investigation into the Polk County helicopter crash.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan– Legal News for Oregon Aviation Accident Lawyers.
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