Pilot Survives St. Pete Helicopter Crash

A 60-year-old St. Petersburg man is lucky to be alive toda,y after his helicopter crashed into a fence on his property, at 4550 35th St. N.

Wayne Parker tried to move his two-seat helicopter to another location on his property, when it reportedly lost a tail rotor and went into a spin, a news release said.

According to responding Pinellas Sheriff's deputies and firefighters, Parker
had started the helicopter to move it by hovering to another location on the
property, when he lost control before crashing into a fence.

Parker, deputies said, keeps his Hughes 300 helicopter at his business address, 4550 35th St. N. His business is A1 Key & Safe.

Parker escaped without serious injuries and was not taken to the hospital, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The FAA and the NTSB have been notified and will conduct an investigation. Fire officials say there was no fuel spilled, and no fire at the crash scene.