(4/26/2008)
A Bell 206 helicopter owned by Pt Deranzona and operated by Bali Air Charters made an emergency landing on Lebih Beach in the Gianyar Regency mid-day on Wednesday, April 23. 2008.
The helicopter was on a local sightseeing trip with four American visitors when it reportedly lost engine power, compelling the pilot, Darwis Wistoi (45), to auto-rotate while making an emergency landing in a farmer's field some 15 kilometers north of Bali's capital city of Denpasar.
Local press reports that both passengers and pilot were "shocked" in the hard landing but, with the exception of minor abrasions, were otherwise uninjured. Listed as passengers in addition to the pilot were Americans John Byrum (30), Daniel Gardner (24), Russell Nelson (26) and the sole female passenger, Randi Cain (24).
Representatives of Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee continue to investigate the incident but have given high marks to the skill demonstrated by the pilot in making the difficult landing.
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