Helicopter lands on busy Lakewood street

LAKEWOOD - A sheriff's patrol helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing on a busy Lakewood street on Sunday after a bird flew into the fuselage.The sheriff's flight crew was flying over Lakewood at about 8:50 p.m. when they heard a loud noise coming from the aircraft. Once the crew was cleared to land, they landed the Air-24 on Del Amo Boulevard, between Paramount Boulevard and Cherry Avenue. Once on the ground, the flight crew checked the helicopter and found that the loud noise was caused by a bird striking the fuselage above the pilot canopy. Del Amo Boulevard was closed for about three hours as mechanics surveyed the damage. The helicopter was able to fly back to headquarters. No injuries or property damage were reported.

********** Published: October 25, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 28