The Associated Press
MOUNDRIDGE, Kan. — Investigators are still looking for the cause of a helicopter crash in Kansas that killed a Washington man.
Sixty-six-year-old Roger Hershner of Sequim was headed to Wichita when the helicopter went down in McPherson County near Moundridge on Sunday.
Jason Aguilera, an investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said today that initial research shows the chopper had enough fuel. It did not burn after coming down. Weather also would not account for the crash.
The Hutchinson News reported on its Web site that the pilot also did not issue distress calls. No witnesses have come forward.
It will be at least five days before a preliminary finding is issued.
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Earlier report By Rob Ollikainen
Peninsula Daily News
SEQUIM — Witnesses reported hearing the sound of engine surges before a helicopter crash that killed a Sequim pilot in central Kansas on Sunday, a National Transportation Safety Board spokesman said Monday.
Roger Hershner, 66, was flying a Bell 206 L-4 model helicopter when it crashed about 40 miles north of Wichita.
No one else was on board the aircraft when it went down at about 2:30 p.m. CDT (12:30 p.m. PDT).
“It crashed into an open field,” said Peter Knudson, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, D.C.
“There were witness reports of hearing engine surges prior to impact.”
Knudson said the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Long investigation
Determining probable cause will take some time, he added.
“[It takes] usually 12 months to complete an investigation,” he said.
“All we have is basic information about the time, location and the basic circumstances. . . . We won’t go into any analysis.
“It’s far too early.”
Hershner was reportedly flying from Washington state to Virginia to perform work for the U.S. Forest Service.
“The man was a contractor with the U.S. Forest Service; however, not with Olympic National Forest,” said Donna Nemeth, Olympic National Forest spokeswoman.
Nemeth said she didn’t know which national forest unit Hershner worked for.
She had never met Hershner but was saddened by the news.
“Just a real unfortunate loss,” Nemeth said.
Idaho company
The helicopter was registered to Hillcrest Aircraft Co. out of Lewiston, Idaho.
A Kansas Highway Patrol spokesman said Hershner had stopped in ¬Ogallala, Neb., for a layover on Saturday and planned to stop in Wichita on Sunday.
Hershner was airborne for 2¬½ hours before the crash occurred, KSCW-TV reported in Wichita.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are conducting the investigation.
A news conference is scheduled for 7 a.m. today near the crash site.
Jason Aguilera of the NTSB is the lead investigator, Knudson said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
