Advertisement Pilot injured in UNMH helicopter crash Chopper will remain on roof for further evaluation, company says Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A witness said he saw the helicopter lift off about 30 feet before beginning to wobble and eventually crashing hard back down onto the roof of University of New Mexico Hospital.VIDEO: Feds arrive for investigationThe chopper, which had just transported a patient from Rio Rancho, failed to clear the roof’s lip. It burst into flames, but the fire was quickly doused by the hospital’s rooftop sprinkler system.The helicopter that crashed was a new helicopter making its first flight, according to multiple sources. VIDEO: Sky 7's view of UNMH helicopter crashThere were three people on board. They’re all expected to be OK, though the pilot did sustain an injury. Hospital officials said as a part of takeoff protocol, emergency responders were already on the roof when the helicopter began to go down.The chopper dropped the patient off at about 5:45 p.m. and didn’t have any patients or UNMH employees on board when it was beginning to take back off.Inside, the top two floors were evacuated. Below, Lomas Boulevard was closed for an investigation. The road reopened Thursday morning but investigators plan to close it again. Witnesses said it was a miracle nobody walking by on Lomas was hurt when the incident occurred.It is an ongoing investigation and the cause of the crash has yet to be determined. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will aid in the investigation.Federal investigators arrived at the scene Thursday at 8 a.m.A process called man, machine and environment will be used to find out why the crash happened. This will involve the pilot's training and flight time, how the helicopter was maintained and whether weather or radar played a factor.VIDEO: Not first crash for PHIOnly serious trauma patients were being accepted at UNMH Wednesday evening, as the crash shut it down for several hours. Helicopters were also unable to go to UNMH after the crash, and were being diverted to Johnson Field on the University of New Mexico campus.Engineers were sent to UNMH to assess the building's structural stability.Photos: Helicopter crashes on top of UNMHThe helicopter is owned by Petroleum Helicopters International, according to hospital officials. The company regularly flies patients to the hospital. PHI flies oil, gas, medical equipment and other technology.At least two of the company’s choppers have crashed since 2009. In May 2012, an Iraq war veteran was killed when a chopper went down in the Gulf of Mexico, and another eight died in a marsh crash about 80 miles southwest of New Orleans in 2009.The company said the chopper will remain on the roof for further evaluation. Officials said the aircraft experienced an unforeseen issue.