MESA, Ariz. — A passenger has died after a helicopter crash-landed at Falcon Field Park in Mesa Friday afternoon.
The passenger, 55-year-old Chip Paige, was pronounced dead at the scene after receiving major lacerations during the crash.
According to FlightAware, the helicopter took off from Blythe, California around 2:48 p.m.
For unknown reasons, parts of the helicopter came off and caused the helicopter to crash, police said. The pilot, Albert Hayden, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
Police said the falling helicopter parts only caused property damage and that nobody at the park was injured.
Witness video shows the helicopter spinning in the air before it crashed.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.
The helicopter, a UH-1H, is currently owned by Bell Asset Management in Higley, Arizona, according to FAA records.
This same helicopter had a hard landing with substantial damage in 2008, records show. In that crash, the engine failed while the helicopter was carrying a 1,700-pound load on a 100-foot line. One person was injured.
