Pilot says he acted fast to avoid even worse crash

FARMINGTON, Conn. (AP) — The Connecticut legislator whose helicopter crashed last week said he quickly tilted the small aircraft's nose upward to keep it from turning to the side to avoid an even worse crash.

State Rep. William Wadsworth, a Farmington Republican, tells The Hartford Courant that he unbuckled his passenger, girlfriend Irene Van, and carried her from the wrecked helicopter. She is recovering from a broken back.

While approaching the landing area as the pleasure flight ended, he said he felt a bump and the helicopter immediately began turning and spinning toward the ground.

The 59-year-old Wadsworth, who has been flying since 1990, now says he has no immediate plans to return to the sky.

Jim Peters, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said it's not clear what caused the helicopter to malfunction and crash.

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Information from: The Hartford Courant

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