[Fair use for education and research purpose only]

Title: Sightseeing Helicopter Crashes at Grand Canyon

Story Filed: Tuesday, April 18, 2000 3:41 PM EST

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. (Reuters) - A sightseeing helicopter crashed at Grand Canyon Airport on Tuesday, injuring the pilot and six German tourists on board, a sheriff's spokesman said.

The helicopter crashed in windy conditions, but it was not known if the crash was weather related, Coconino County Sheriff's spokesman Randy Servis said.

Helicopter tours of the canyon are a popular tourist attraction.

Servis said the seven people had been taken to two area hospitals, but their injuries were not life threatening. The helicopter had just taken off and had risen to about 300 feet, when it appeared to lose power, Servis said.

He said Federal Aviation Administration investigators were at the scene and the National Transportation Safety Board was on its way there.

Snow and icy rain in the area caused several road accidents and another aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at nearby Tuba City airport, Servis said.

Copyright ) 2000 Reuters Limited. http://library.northernlight.com/HB20000418870000015.html?cb=0&dx=2006&sc=0#doc

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