Mechanical failure causes small helicopter crash near Yakima

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - A mechanical failure caused a crop-spraying helicopter to crash in Yakima County, igniting a small grass fire.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports (https://bit.ly/2aq3s15 ) that the helicopter crashed Friday south of Outlook and ignited a blaze that burned 1.5 acres of grass before firefighters from Yakima County Fire District 5 extinguished the flames.

J.R. Helicopters, of Umatilla, Oregon, owned the helicopter which was completely destroyed.

J.R. Helicopters Vice President of Operations Matt Van Pelt says the pilot, who was injured in the crash, was an experienced agricultural flyer. The pilot has since been released from a hospital.

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Information from: Yakima Herald-Republic, https://www.yakimaherald.com