Old News - CHP helicopter crashes in Paso Robles Friday

Atascadero News Online:

CHP helicopter crashes in Paso Friday
BY ANNE QUINN -- JULY 18, 2007
There were no serious injuries in the crash of a H-70 helicopter owned by the California Highway Patrol at the Paso Robles Airport that occurred at 1:28 p.m. on Friday.
The Eurocopter A350 rolled on its side onto a dirt field for unknown reasons when the pilot, officer Jim Siegfried, attempted to take off on a routine patrol from runway number 19, according to a CHP report.
On board the aircraft was another pilot, officer Richard Bookbinder, and flight officer Dave Perotti.
Officer Siegfried has 11,500 hours of flight time experience, authorities said.
A multi-disciplinary accident investigation team is investigating the accident. MATE teams typically investigate multiple fatality collisions, as well as all aircraft accidents.
The Eurocopter A350 was eight years old. The cost to replace it in todays dollars with all the equipment it contained would be around $3 million, according to CHP division spokesman, Craig Rude.
The great news is that there were no injuries, Rude said. Usually when you hear of helicopter accidents that is not the case.
Roger Oxborrow, airport manager, said July 13 was a busy day at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport. He said he knew something had occurred when he saw all the CHP ground support crew mechanics drive down the field really fast.