Pilot sustained ‘serious’ injuries in helicopter crash
Trending
BELLEVILLE - Federal authorities are investigating the crash of a tree-trimming helicopter Monday in Wood County.
The crash was reported around 5:27 p.m. Monday at 3978 Lee Creek Road in Belleville, according to Sgt. R.E. Richardson with the West Virginia State Police. Pilot Brandon Stenzel, 37, was flown to Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital with "serious injuries," Richardson said.
The name of the company that owns the helicopter was not available, but it was contracted to trim trees around power lines by FirstEnergy, the company said in a statement released Monday night.
"Our main concern is for those who may have been involved in the incident, and our thoughts are with them as their injuries are assessed," the statement said.
Richardson said state troopers secured the scene and took initial statements. The Wood County Sheriff's Department and Lubeck and Pond Creek volunteer fire departments also responded.
The crash will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, according to the FAA website.
An FAA notice about the incident says the helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances while performing low-level tree work. An NTSB spokesman said the helicopter was a Hughes 369D that was pruning tree limbs at the time of the crash.