New Smyrna Beach, FL – A 43-year-old pilot is taken to Halifax Health Medical Center after a Volusia County Mosquito Control helicopter crashed in a remote area near State Road 44.
It happened around 3:30pm Thursday on property owned by Kirkland Sod west of Interstate 95.
County spokesman Dave Byron says Brian Hayes – a 20-year United States Army veteran who flew Blackhawks while in uniform – was on a spraying mission when the helicopter crashed in a heavily wooded area. A pre-crash photo of that helicopter is posted above.
Following the crash, Hayes’ bosses at Mosquito Control ordered him to call 911 so that rescuers could ping his cell phone for an exact location.
“We’re just thankful that Brian was not more seriously injured,” said Volusia County Mosquito Control Director Jim McNelly. “Obviously, we’re all a bit shaken by this incident.”
Air One – the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office helicopter – had to fly into the area to pull Hayes out because paramedics weren’t able to gain access on the ground.
Part of State Road 44 was closed by firefighters briefly so that Air One could drop Hayes – Mosquito Control’s chief pilot following his hiring last March – off for treatment.
Hayes was bleeding but conscious the entire time, according to VCSO spokesman Gary Davidson.
Hayes was able to walk to paramedics following the crash and his injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening.
Byron added that it’s unclear at this time what exactly caused the helicopter to crash, but the initial thought is some sort of mechanical failure.
The helicopter that crashed is a 1989 McDonnell Douglas rotorcraft, the older of the 2 currently in the Mosquito Control fleet.
The crash area is in such a remote location that removing the wreckage for analysis will be difficult to do, per Byron.
The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified of the crash and will be investigating.
Mosquito Control took possession of a new helicopter recently and it should be able to keep up with the department’s needs following this incident, according to Byron.
Crash site (courtesy Google Maps)
Brian Hayes (courtesy Volusia County)
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