A helicopter lost control and crashed into the front yard of a central California home, injuring a pilot and passenger, authorities said.
Around 10 a.m. Saturday, the helicopter crashed southeast of Fresno and parked on the edge of the house, clipping the top of a palm tree. Charlie Chamarbeid.
Two men on board, a 47-year-old pilot and a 33-year-old passenger, were hospitalized with minor injuries, Chamarbid said. No one was hurt on the ground.
The lieutenant said the plane was a survey helicopter being commissioned. He has no information on who owns it or for whom the occupants work.
“They heard a pop and then they started to lose altitude – as far as we know,” Chamarbeid told reporters.
Neicy Miramontes told the Fresno Bee that her 9-year-old son Ezekiel Carranco was walking to a friend’s house when she saw the helicopter was in trouble.
“Suddenly he looked up and saw the helicopter spinning, and then he heard a loud bang,” she said.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.