The Gwinnett County police officer who was piloting a helicopter last month felt a “strong wind gust” just before it crashed in Lawrenceville, according to a federal report.
That was followed by a "sudden, uncommanded, violent, right yaw" and "what seemed to be an uncommanded climb,” according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board regarding the Sept. 1 crash.
The crash, which happened about 11 a.m., injured co-pilot Cpl. Michael Duncan and Officer George McLain, police said. They were using the helicopter to search for a wanted person but decided to head back to Briscoe Field because of a storm.
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Duncan was paralyzed from the waist down, police said. He has been transferred to the Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta.
The pilot never regained control, according to the report. He applied “cyclic and pedal inputs,” but the helicopter continued in a right spin for at least two full rotations until it hit the ground.
First responders took the officers to Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville.
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