La Habra : Helicopter Crash-Lands in Condo Parking Area

A private helicopter crash-landed Tuesday afternoon in the parking area of a condominium complex after developing mechanical or electrical problems, police said.

Two men who were aboard the Bell H-13 aircraft walked away from the crash uninjured.

The pilot, David M. Hepburn, 30, of Fullerton, attempted to land the helicopter at 1:52 p.m. near the intersection of Imperial Highway and Euclid Street but was forced to settle between a row of covered parking stalls and a brick wall, La Habra Police Lt. John Rees said.

“It had mechanical failure and just lost power . . .,” Rees said. “They put it down as best they could.” No one was nearby on the ground when the helicopter landed. Rees said the helicopter’s tail hit a storm drain beside the brick wall, and the body of the helicopter settled onto the parking lot.

Rees identified the passenger as Theodore S. Peterson, 30, of Fullerton.

Hepburn, who works for the Royal Gourmet catering company, was on a catering job Tuesday and had been looking for other business possibilities when his aircraft ran into trouble, according to Steve McGlawn, who owns the La Habra-based business.

The helicopter is owned by Lonnie Reid of Reid’s Helicopter Service in Riverside.

Although some officials at the scene speculated that the aircraft might be repaired, Rees said, “The thing looks like it’s thrashed. I don’t know if it will fly again.”

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.