Police Helicopter Suffered 'Substantial' Damage Says NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board wrote in a preliminary report that a Howard County police helicopter suffered 'substantial' damage when it made an emergency landing at Wilde Lake High School last month.
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None of the four police officers who were in the helicopter were injured during the emergency landing.

The damage to the helicopter was described by NTSB as a severed tail boom, damaged main rotor blades and damage to the landing gear.

NTSB wrote in its preliminary report that around 11 p.m. on May 30 the helicopter was traveling at a speed of 120 knots (approx. 138 mph), about 600 feet above the ground when the police helicopter "yawed to the left and the red 'ENGINE OUT' warning light illuminated." At this point the pilot put the helicopter into autorotation and prepared to land on the Wilde Lake High School football field, according to NTSB.

"To avoid trees and a goal post the pilot extended the glide path by raising the collective control," wrote NTSB. "The helicopter landed hard on the football field and came to rest in an upright position."

NTSB reported the engines electronic control unit (ECU) was removed from the engine and is being examined at the manufacturer's facilities. The wrecked helicopter is currently secured in a local hangar, wrote NTSB.

The pilot at the time was Cpl. Perry Thorsvik, who has been flying for HCPD since 2003, according to police. Also on board were Cpl. Robert Townsend, a tactical flight officer with the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Jacob Bell, an HCPD tactical flight officer; and Craig Hoover, an HCPD flight observer.

Police said the helicopter was responding to a call at the time of the accident. There was minimal damage reported to the football field.

Police did not respond to a question about the cost of the helicopter, but the model, a Bell 407, is currently listed between $1.7 million to  $2.9 million.

A spokesperson for HCPD said the department is currently working with Anne Arundel County to provide aerial police coverage using Anne Arundel's helicopter.

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Police Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing at Wilde Lake High