A MAN was decapitated and killed by a model remote-controlled helicopter in Brooklyn, sources said.

The victim, Roman Pirozek, was on the corner of Shore Parkway and Bay 44th Street around 3:40 p.m, when his toy aircraft boomeranged and chopped off his head, law enforcement sources told the New York Post

Mr Pirozek was slashed by the rotor of the remote controlled device during a stunt gone wrong. The blades cut off a piece of his skull, in turn scalping him, WNBC-TV reports.

An official confirmed Mr Pirozek also sheared off part of his shoulder.

When police arrived, Pirozek had already passed. Pictures show the body near the remote control.

Three people - members of his helicopter club, Seaview Rotary Wings - were with the victim at the time of the accident.

He was the vice president of his local helicopter hobby club, his Facebook page reveals. The page has since been removed.

There are reports his father, Roman Pirozek Sr., was also at the scene at the time.

Mr. Pirozek’s sister, Amy Pirozek, who said he worked as a cargo handler for an airline, described Pirozek as a brother who "would always protect me".

“He was the best person ever. He had the biggest heart,” she told the Wall Street Journal. “I think he was just doing it because it was his day off.”

“He was a good brother. I’ll never forget that.”

The fatal helicopter is reportedly a Taiwanese model, costing between $300 to more than $1000.



Neighbours described him as "an avid hobbyist who is frequently seen in the area flying model airplanes," reports the Daily Mail.

"He was known to be aggressive in his flying and often executed tricks. He was executing a trick when he was struck," a police source told the Wall Street Journal.

Pirozek developed a YouTube channel where he would post footage of various tricks and flights using a Trex 700 model helicopter. In one video, he drops the $1,500 model from above, only to restart the rotor just inches from his head.

The helicopter's blade span measures 62 inches, its rotor spins at more than 2,000 rpm.

“He went to good parts of the country to shows — he loved it. It was his father’s hobby and he picked it up from him. His father must be destroyed,” said neighbour Victor Tommaso, 68.

The field where he died is sanctioned by the Academy of Model Aeronautics, an unidentified friend told the Journal. In his final Facebook post on August 25, Pirozek wrote: "Great day for flying, the new frame brace is working great, breaking in some new packs i just got, they are the best that I have flown so far and loving them". Officials are investigating.

This is a similar model to the remote control helicopter that killed a 19 y/o hobbyist in Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/vFUKd5q2Gm — Shimon Prokupecz (@shimon4ny) September 5, 2013

photo: detectives looking at remote control helicopter that killed 19 y/o near Coney Island. pic.twitter.com/SP6Hx17BjO — Shimon Prokupecz (@shimon4ny) September 5, 2013

Sources say 19 y/o killed by blades from model helicopter was doing "tricks" when something went wrong. Known for performing risky tricks. — Shimon Prokupecz (@shimon4ny) September 5, 2013

Scene at Calvert Vaux Park in Bklyn where 19 yo was killed flying his model helicopter. Live at 6pm on #cbs2news pic.twitter.com/iDA8sBb5jb — Jessica Schneider (@SchneiderJess) September 5, 2013