| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
LIVINGSTON HELICOPTER CRASH
May 1, 2008
Livingston, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David W. Harrison, Jr. reports that at 7:31am this morning, Deputy
Sheriff’s were dispatched to Cold Spring Road in Livingston for a report of an unoccupied helicopter that had
crashed in an orchard and was on it’s side. Deputy Sheriff Eli Fieser located the helicopter and was advised the
pilots were at a nearby farm. The pilots, 28-year-old Andrew J. Putnam of Appleton, WI and 22-year-old Iain Grant
of Lincoln, New Hampshire who are employed by Northeast Helicopters in Ellington, Ct., were hired by a local
farmer to prevent frost from damaging the farmers’ fruit trees.
As a result of the Deputy Sheriff’s investigation, it was determined the crash actually occurred at 2:50am and was
reported later by an individual who was taking a walk and noticed the downed helicopter.
Putnam sustained minor facial injuries and was transported by private vehicle to the Columbia Memorial Hospital
where he was treated and released. Grant was uninjured.
The National Traffic Safety Board was contacted and is handling the investigation as they have jurisdiction of
aviation related incidents. It appears that an engine malfunction could have been the cause of the accident.
However, the cause will be determined by the N.T.S.B..
On the scene for the Sheriff’s Office in addition to Deputy Sheriff Eli Fieser, were Lieutenant James E. Andrews,
Sr. Investigator Kevin Skype and Investigator Anthony Brahm.
May 1, 2008
Livingston, NY – Columbia County Sheriff David W. Harrison, Jr. reports that at 7:31am this morning, Deputy
Sheriff’s were dispatched to Cold Spring Road in Livingston for a report of an unoccupied helicopter that had
crashed in an orchard and was on it’s side. Deputy Sheriff Eli Fieser located the helicopter and was advised the
pilots were at a nearby farm. The pilots, 28-year-old Andrew J. Putnam of Appleton, WI and 22-year-old Iain Grant
of Lincoln, New Hampshire who are employed by Northeast Helicopters in Ellington, Ct., were hired by a local
farmer to prevent frost from damaging the farmers’ fruit trees.
As a result of the Deputy Sheriff’s investigation, it was determined the crash actually occurred at 2:50am and was
reported later by an individual who was taking a walk and noticed the downed helicopter.
Putnam sustained minor facial injuries and was transported by private vehicle to the Columbia Memorial Hospital
where he was treated and released. Grant was uninjured.
The National Traffic Safety Board was contacted and is handling the investigation as they have jurisdiction of
aviation related incidents. It appears that an engine malfunction could have been the cause of the accident.
However, the cause will be determined by the N.T.S.B..
On the scene for the Sheriff’s Office in addition to Deputy Sheriff Eli Fieser, were Lieutenant James E. Andrews,
Sr. Investigator Kevin Skype and Investigator Anthony Brahm.