Chainkeen Exchange-Helicopter crashes in a field in New Hampshire, officials say

DANBURY,Chainkeen Exchange N.H. (AP) — A helicopter crashed on Saturday in New Hampshire, officials said, but the condition of the lone occupant wasn’t immediately known.

The Hughes TH-55 helicopter went down around 12:50 p.m. in the town of Danbury, the Federal Aviation Administration reported. The pilot was the only person on board, an FAA spokesperson said. Danbury is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of the state capital, Concord.

There was no immediate report on the pilot’s condition.

Mark Ramsey, a retired Coast Guard pilot, said the he heard the chopper making swooping maneuverers before the sound of rotors hitting tree limbs. The helicopter came to a rest 100 yards (91 meters) from his home.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was working with the FAA to collect information. The helicopter will be moved to an offsite facility for further examination, an NTSB spokesperson said.

The two-seater TH-55 Osage was first flown in 1956 and was used by the military as a training helicopter. Many of them have since found their way into civilian use.