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Tag: helicopter crash

Helicopter crashes off AMI

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

Updated April 15, 10:07 p.m. – BRADENTON BEACH – A helicopter crashed off Coquina Beach Saturday afternoon with two men escaping injury.

U.S. Coast Guard Station Cortez responded to the South Coquina boat ramp at 12:18 p.m. according to Officer of the Day Charles Richter.

Student pilot Joseph Bakker, of Englewood, and instructor James Rahming, of Tampa, were pulled from the water by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Richter said.

Rahming is with Helicopter Academy, also known as boatpix.com. The helicopter is reportedly a Robinson R22.

Bradenton Beach Police Officer Eric Hill said he saw the helicopter “trying to maneuver and make a counterclockwise turn and then I heard the pitch of the rotor blades change and it looks like it lost lift due to the way it was turning… that’s when people called that it crashed,” he said.

This is the second helicopter crash this year off Anna Maria Island.

A Robinson R44 crashed into the Gulf of Mexico about two miles off Anna Maria Island on Jan. 2, sending two men to the hospital. The helicopter was shooting video of a boat about 10-15 feet above the water a half-mile west of the Sandbar restaurant when the crash occurred.

James Rhaming, sitting on piling, left, and Joseph Bakker, sitting on piling, right, crashed a helicopter into Sarasota Bay this afternoon off Anna Maria Island. - Tom Vaught | Sun

James Rhaming, sitting on piling, left, and Joseph Bakker, sitting on piling, right, crashed a helicopter into Sarasota Bay this afternoon off Anna Maria Island. - Tom Vaught | Sun

- Tom Vaught | Sun

- Tom Vaught | Sun

- Tom Vaught | Sun

- Tom Vaught | Sun

- Eric Hill, Bradenton Beach Police Department | Submitted

- Eric Hill, Bradenton Beach Police Department | Submitted

- Eric Hill, Bradenton Beach Police Department | Submitted

- Eric Hill, Bradenton Beach Police Department | Submitted

- Eric Hill, Bradenton Beach Police Department | Submitted

- Eric Hill, Bradenton Beach Police Department | Submitted

- Eric Hill, Bradenton Beach Police Department | Submitted

- Eric Hill, Bradenton Beach Police Department | Submitted

- John B. Haggerty Jr. | Submitted

- John B. Haggerty Jr. | Submitted

- John B. Haggerty Jr. | Submitted

- John B. Haggerty Jr. | Submitted

- John B. Haggerty Jr. | Submitted

- John B. Haggerty Jr. | Submitted

- Mike Bazzy, Bradenton Beach Marina | Submitted

- Mike Bazzy, Bradenton Beach Marina | Submitted

- John B. Haggerty Jr. | Submitted

- John B. Haggerty Jr. | Submitted

  • Joe Hendricks contributed to this report.

Helicopter crashes into Gulf off AMI

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

Updated Jan. 11, 2019 – ANNA MARIA – A helicopter crashed into the Gulf of Mexico about two miles off Anna Maria Island on Wednesday, Jan. 2, sending two men to the hospital, according to Manatee County emergency officials.

Stan Lee

The helicopter was shooting video of a boat about 10-15 feet above the water a half-mile west of the Sandbar restaurant when the crash occurred around 11 a.m., said Steve Litschauer, acting chief of Manatee County Emergency Management.

Sarasota Police Department | Submitted

Two men were transported to Blake Medical Center; the pilot, Stanley Lee, in his 60s, with trauma, and Thomas MacKnight, 58, with back injuries, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). The third occupant, photographer Peter Boden, refused treatment.

Lee was released from the hospital on Jan. 10. MacKnight was not hospitalized.

Emergency workers met the victims at the South Coquina boat ramp for transport to the hospital, said Robert Smith, Manatee County’s public safety director. The boat that was the subject of the video transported them from the crash site to the ramp.

The Robinson R44 helicopter was recovered on Friday, Jan. 4 and transported to the Coquina Beach boat ramp. - Collin Schmidt | Submitted

The Robinson R44 helicopter was recovered on Friday, Jan. 4 and transported to the Coquina Beach boat ramp. - Collin Schmidt | Submitted

The Robinson R44 helicopter was recovered on Friday, Jan. 4 and transported to the Coquina Beach boat ramp. - Collin Schmidt | Submitted

The Robinson R44 helicopter was recovered on Friday, Jan. 4 and transported to the Coquina Beach boat ramp. - Collin Schmidt | Submitted

The owner of the Robinson R44 single-rotor helicopter is Sarasota Helicopter Services LLC, according to MCSO. Lee is listed as manager of the company, according to the Florida Division of Corporations.

The crew was working for North Carolina-based Fountain Powerboats, according to MacKnight’s Facebook page.

Tom MacKnight

This evening, MacKnight posted on his Facebook page: “Hi Everyone. I want to just let you know that I am out of the hospital and back home. Wish I could say that for my pilot, Stan, who is in critical condition. Please say a prayer for him. We went down hard in the gulf around 11 am while shooting for Fountain Powerboats. I am pretty banged up like I just played a quarter with a pro football team but I am blessed to be here. Guess I am not done here on earth. I lost my camera, wallet, phone, keys but feel like I won the lottery of life today. I appreciate the messages and concern and will try to respond. But now, I am going to chill out. I kind of had a bad day. Again, please pray for Stan and thank you for well wishes and concern. More tomorrow.”

Pete Boden posted: “Just a quick update, I am a bit bruised, but fine! The inflatable Vest worked great, that’s why I wear them. Today God didn’t need us, and for that I am truly thankful. Thank you for all the kind thoughts and prayers!”

A GoFundMe account has been set up for Boden, who lost his camera equipment in the crash. Another GoFundMe account has been set up for Lee and MacKnight.

Pete Boden