Helicopter Crashes Onto Houseboat

The park received a cell phone call around 10 a.m. on October 2nd, reporting that a helicopter had crashed on a houseboat in the mouth of Last Chance Bay on Lake Powell. Rangers Jared St. Clair, Shawn McNally and Chad Hunter and firefighters Chris Cook and Heath Beard responded by boat. Pilot Robert Schwartz and his wife, Veronica, were taking off from the beached 75-foot houseboat in their Robinson 44 helicopter when the tail rotor began malfunctioning. Schwartz tried to compensate, but the helicopter slammed back onto the houseboat because he’d failed to remove the rear tie-down strap prior to takeoff. Schwartz is an experienced pilot who frequently flies to and from his houseboat, which is equipped to handle landings and takeoffs. Veronica Schwartz was flown by Classic Lifeguard Helicopter to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment of traumatic injuries. Robert Schwartz declined medical treatment. A significant amount of the helicopter’s fuel leaked into the lake, and appropriate measures were taken to clean it up. A contractor removed the main rotors and tail rotor from the lake. The FAA is investigating. The IC was Jared St. Clair.