Police in Conception Bay South responded to an unusual call Monday afternoon — a crashed helicopter that appears to have started in a box.

It just goes to show, you never know what people are doing in their backyards. - Ken McDonald, Conception Bay South mayor

Around 2:50 p.m., Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers responded to complaints of an explosion and possible aircraft crash.

However, they discovered that a man had crashed what police are describing as a full-size helicopter, built from a kit.

They said the man was testing the aircraft in his yard when he experienced difficulties. While he was testing it, the rotors hit the ground, causing moderate damage to the helicopter.

The RNC said the man was not seriously hurt up to the time they left the scene.

Not taking a flight

Meanwhile, the Transportation Safety Board said it won't investigate the incident.

According to the TSB, the man was not attempting to take flight and was instead trying to test the helicopter's engine when something went wrong.

The helicopter then became "slightly airborne," TSB said, and went sideways, impacting the lawn and landing on its side.

The TSB said the owner had been working on the helicopter for a number of years, and was testing the engine.

Conception Bay South Mayor Ken McDonald said he doesn't know anything about what happened, and was unaware of anyone building an aircraft on property in the town.

"It just goes to show, you never know what people are doing in their backyards," he told CBC's St. John's Morning Show.