Pilot Survives Helicopter Crash Near Newberg's Rex Hill (UPDATED)

The helicopter is from a Newberg company called Precision Helicopters, Inc.

Photos of crash scene courtesy: Ken Summers/Yamhill County Sheriff

(NEWBERG, Ore.) - An Elk Grove, California helicopter pilot was injured today when his two-seat helicopter crashed in the Rex Hill area of Newberg. Sgt. Tim Weaver with Newberg-Dundee Police says it happened around 10:40 AM.

Weaver told Salem-News.com that the call over the crash came in from a motorist who watched the aircraft go down.

"The 911 center in Newberg received the contact after the caller saw the crash, followed it and used his mobile phone to contact us."

He says it helped greatly that this person was as accurate he was, it took the guess work out for responders.

"He helped a lot and gave us a very good description of where he was driving. He went up a fairly long driveway to make it up to a house and saw the helicopter and met with the pilot."

Brinkman was still strapped into the 1998 Schweizer 269C, a small two-seat helicopter, when Weaver arrived, but he was conscious. He said the crash is a Yamhill County Sheriff's Office case, but he responded to lend a hand because he was close.

Brad Brinkman who is in his mid to late 20s, was flown from the crash site by LifeFlight air ambulance to the Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, according to Yamhill County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Ken Summers.

"His injuries are not available, however, he did converse with rescuers before his extrication from the aircraft. His condition is not yet known.," Summers added.

Brad Brinkman is in his mid to late 20s, Weaver said. He was transported to Oregon Health and Science University for treatment after being removed from the crashed plane.

According to Weaver, the helicopter is from a Newberg company called Precision. The company hase a private airstrip. The location of the helicopter crash was off Schadd Road and Anna Drive, just outside of Newberg.

The aircraft was significantly damaged, but cannot be determined if it is a total loss. Brinkman's experience and certifications as a pilot are not available at this point. Weaver says it is his understanding that the pilot was logging training hours when the crash happened.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

Agencies initially involved include Newberg-Dundee Police, paramedics and firefighters from the Newberg Fire Department and Dundee Fire Department. Within a few minutes of the crash, deputies from the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office arrived and took control of the crash site. They are the primary law enforcement agency in this event.