Pilot in Stable Condition After Crashing Helicopter into Roof of Odessa Home
At approximately 5:28 pm on Monday, September 25, 2017, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) received several 911 calls about a helicopter that had crash landed on the roof of a residence located at 9450 Roberts Road.
The pilot, 51 year-old Bradley John Bates, was the only occupant in the helicopter which appears to be a home made helicopter from a kit.
No occupants were inside the residence at the time of the crash. One dog was located in the home and not injured.
Firefighters from HCFR made contact Bates who was alert and talking to rescuers. He was secured to a backboard and brought off of the roof. He was listed as a trauma alert, and was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital in Tampa. Police say he is listed in stable condition.
HCFR has cut power to the residence and Code Enforcement will determine the damage to the structure.
The helicopter will remain in place until such time as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) makes the decision to remove it and NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conduct their investigation.
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