PER ROCKINGHAM COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR RODNEY CATES:
Units arrived on scene and located a helicopter that had crashed in the wooded area near the powerline off South Edgewood Dr.
Initial reports were that the helicopter had crashed into a house but those reports were not confirmed. The entire crash site was located in the woods and no residences were impacted. No power outages occurred as a result of the crash.
Two passengers from the helicopter were able to escape the wreckage and Rockingham County EMS made immediate patient contact. One passenger was transported by ground to UNC- Rockingham and the second passenger was air lifted to Wake Forest Baptist Health Care. Their conditions are not known at this time. These two passengers reported a third member, the pilot, who was not immediately located.
The helicopter was engulfed in flames and firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. Once the fire suppression was complete and the scene was safe to approach, responders located the pilot of the helicopter who was deceased.
Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is on scene conducting the investigation into the cause of the crash. Tomorrow, the FAA will be joined by the National Transportation Safety Board who will assist with the investigation and the removal of the wreckage. An environmental cleaning agency has also been contacted to assist with any environmental impacts from the crash and the subsequent fire suppression.
The helicopter and crew were employed by Duke Energy and were surveying power lines.
Though this was a horrific scene and a tragedy for the pilot and his family, who will remain in our thoughts and prayers. A Duke Energy representative stated that this was an outstanding response from the “Team.”
The “Team” consisted of Rockingham County 9-1-1 who processed the calls and initiated the dispatch of: Rockingham County EMS, Eden Rescue Squad, Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, Eden Fire, Draper Fire, Leaksville Fire, Shiloh Fire who responded with fire suppression foam, Virginia Air Life, Wake Forest Air Care, Eden Police, NCSHP, Rockingham County Emergency Management, Rockingham County Fire Marshal’s Office, NC Emergency Management and the FAA.
This efficient team effort made a successful mitigation to a tragic event.
At 1:28pm today Rockingham County 9-1-1 received numerous calls about an aircraft that had crashed in the area of South Edgewood Dr. near the Duke Energy Power Station.