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2 Polk County Sheriff's Pilots Survive Helicopter Crash
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Published: May 15, 2008
Chief Pilot Greg Love
Two Polk County Sheriff's Office pilots managed to walk away from a helicopter crash with minor injuries this afternoon at the Lake Wales Airport.
The helicopter was piloted by Chief Pilot Greg Love, 48, and Deputy Brian Bolton, 39, was his passenger, according to the sheriff's office. They were practicing about 4:40 p.m. when the Robinson R-44 helicopter crashed at the airport.
"They were practicing emergency procedures when the practice became too real," Sheriff Grady Judd said.
The R-44 model is a four-seat helicopter, according to the manufacturer's Web site.
As a precaution, Love and Bolton were transported to the Lake Wales Hospital emergency room.
Bolton was treated and released a few hours after the crash. Love was undergoing additional tests.
Love was hired by the sheriff's office in 1995 as a pilot. Bolton was hired in 2006 and was promoted to the aviation unit in 2007, the sheriff's office said. Love has logged over 10,000 hours of air time and Bolton has 1700 hours of airtime.
"They were both experienced pilots," said sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified and will be leading the investigation.
The sheriff's office said the damage to the helicopter was extensive.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( smmarkfan ) on May 15, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Glad to hear the pilots are OK. It's a shame about the copter, though. Polk Co was making good use of it.
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Posted by ( Old_FL_Crab ) on May 15, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ahhh finally, realism in training. heck on the budget though.
"If God had meant for men to fly, he would have given them rotors."
That don't sound jus' right somehow.
Glad they're ok ;-)
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Posted by ( RevThaddeusPaulk ) on May 15, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Was the emergency practice procedure an autorotation? In a Robinson!
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Posted by ( jetranger ) on May 15, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Emergency training is necessary and required in this industry....I have flown many many times with Greg Love, he flys with me when I do my own training. He is one of the best there is at what he does. Unfortunately, sometimes things happen beyond our control in all aspects of life. I'll fly with these guys any time, any where. They are great Pilots!
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Posted by ( RevThaddeusPaulk ) on May 15, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
jetranger
Do you fly a Bell?
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Posted by ( ProudLion ) on May 15, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Thank God there were only minor injuries.
Our prayers are with both Love and Bolton and their families.
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Posted by ( LikeTwurtles ) on May 15, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Rev, what's so strange about autorotations in a Robinson? Has a clutch...
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Posted by ( RevThaddeusPaulk ) on May 15, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
LikeTwurtles
Ask Silver State Helicopters about the sprag clutch in the Robinson.
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