Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing In Middle School Parking Lot

ST. CLAIR SHORES (WWJ) -- A local pilot made an emergency landing on Monday afternoon at a school in St. Clair Shores.

St. Clair Shores Police Lt. Joe Hythaler said that the Plymouth man was flying his Ultra Light Autogyro chopper when he suffered mechanical problems and was forced to set down in the parking lot of Jefferson Middle School.

"It looks like his battery went out, that shut off the fuel pump for the aircraft," Hythaler said. "He landed it in the school parking lot of Jefferson Middle School."

There was no one in the parking lot and the pilot was not hurt.

"The FAA came out and released him," Hythaler said. "The aircraft was released to him -- he doesn't need a pilot's license to fly that aircraft and the aircraft doesn't need to be licensed."