By Ray Reyes
The Tampa Tribune

Eagle 8 Video Report

PLANT CITY - An aerial sightseeing tour came to an abrupt end this afternoon when the rotors of a helicopter lost power, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing in an open field at East Hunter Road and State Road 39, north of Knights-Griffin Road.

John Zadorozny, 33, of Dunedin, the lone passenger in the helicopter, complained of neck and back pain and was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Zadorozny was using a gift certificate for the sightseeing trip, the sheriff’s office said. The pilot, Steven J. Murray, 54, of Odessa, was not injured.

The hard landing occurred shortly before 2 p.m. after Murray reported a mechanical problem with the privately-owned helicopter, the sheriff’s office said. Murray completed the landing without rotor power from about 20 feet in the air. The tail of the helicopter bent and the landing skids broke upon impact.

“There was no fire and no fuel leakage,” Sheriff’s spokesman J.D. Callaway said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the incident, the sheriff’s office said. The helicopter is based at Vandenburg Airport near Brandon.

Stay with TBO.com for more updates.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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