Harney Co. pot-scouting helicopter crashes; no injuries

A helicopter searching for illegal marijuana growing operations in northern Harney County crashed on a forest road after its engine failed Monday afternoon, but the contract pilot and sheriff’s deputy passenger escaped injury, Sheriff David Glerup said Tuesday.

The helicopter, experienced an engine failure about 400 feet off the ground, causing the pilot, Thomas Levanger, 29, of Redding, Calif., to “auto-rotate” the aircraft, which come down on a narrow Forest Service road near Calamity Butte, Glerup said.

Levanger and sheriff’s Deputy Chris Nisbet suffered no apparent injuries, he added.

The helicopter struck the ground, causing damage to the rear rotor, landing gear and main rotors, the sheriff said, adding that the aircraft was a total loss.

The McDonnell Douglas 369E was being leased by the U.S. Department of Justice from PJ Helicopters of Red Bluff, Calif.

The National Transportation Safety Board was notified and will conduct an investigation, Glerup said. Security was posted at the scene, and the helicopter owner planned to remove the aircraft Tuesday.

Sgt. Brian Needham says it was the first day of a federal, state and county marijuana eradication program. He says they hope to resume in a few weeks if another helicopter can be arranged.

Needham says the NTSB is sending the engine to the manufacturer for inspection.