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Chris Gros/ABC15
Helicopter down in Waddell; pilot status upgraded
Clayton Klapper
12:58 PM, Jul 10, 2016
WADDELL, AZ - The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office says deputies are on the scene of a helicopter down in Waddell Sunday afternoon.
It happened near Olive and Sarival avenues around 12:30 p.m.
MCSO says the pilot suffered life-threatening injuries and is being transported to the hospital.
UPDATE: MCSO is investigating the downed aircraft which has been confirmed to be a helicopter. Pilot sustained life-threatening injuries— Chris Hegstrom (@MCSOChris) July 10, 2016
Officials later upgraded the pilot's condition, saying he was expected to survive.
The helicopter is believed to be a crop-dusting helicopter.
No other people were believed to be onboard at the time. No word yet what caused the helicopter to go down, or the extent of the damage.
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Date:
| 10-JUL-2016 | |
| Time: | 12:30+ |
| Type: | Helicopter |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | |
| C/n / msn: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | Maricopa County, east Waddell, AZ -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | |
The aircraft impacted farm field terrain in Maricopa County north of Luke Air Force Base during an aerial application flight in east Waddell, Arizona. The helicopter sustained substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard received serious injuries.
Sources:
http://www.abc15.com/news/region-west-valley/litchfield-park/small-aircraft-down-in-waddell-pilot-has-minor-injuries
http://www.azfamily.com/story/32411155/mcso-helicopter-goes-down-in-west-valley