Massad Ayoob, firearms expert, was in helicopter that crashed in St. Lucie County on Saturday

wptv.com ^ | 01/28/2013 | Will Greenlee, Elliott Jones, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/

[Nachum]

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A small helicopter that crashed Saturday in far western St. Lucie County was carrying an internationally known firearms expert who was hunting wild hogs from the air using a handgun.

Live Oak resident Massad Ayoob, 64, his hunting companion Jonathan Strayer, 46, and pilot William Harward, 55, were above the tree tops, at about 100 feet, when the Hiller helicopter lost power and plunged to the ground around 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Ayoob said Monday.

“A few minutes into the flight, as we were zoning in on an oinker that had run under the canopy of some tall pines, the engine lost power,” he said.

The helicopter’s main rotor hit the trees, shattering the blades, said Ayoob. His home of Live Oak is east of Tallahassee in Suwannee County.

Ayoob, Strayer and Harward walked away — with cuts, bruises and some bleeding — and used a cellphone to call for help.

[Cyman]

Never ,ever trust a helicopter. Ask Francis Gary Powers.

[Cyman]

Never ,ever trust a helicopter. Ask Francis Gary Powers.

[dfwgator]

Never ,ever trust a helicopter. Ask Francis Gary Powers.

Or Stevie Ray Vaughan

[onona]

Damn - The things we northerners don't know !

I better tell my son...

[MileHi]

Back in the day when I was first shooting handguns I read everything I could find by Ayoob and Ross Seyfried (sp?).

Damn, I can't believe how long ago that has been now. Glad he made it ok.

[USNBandit]

How does a Hiller get airborne with three adult males on board?

[USNBandit]

I don’t know about that. Seems pretty gutsy crashing a helicopter on top of a hog to kill it.

[Flotsam_Jetsome]

"Sounds fun but if he was a real man he'd hunt hogs with a knife."

You mean, like this knife?

Thanks for the Ping, Nully.

[Anvilhead]

I’ve only ever needed a Q-tip for hunting. It’s the most humane way.

[driftdiver]

This is currently my preferred one.

[FreedomPoster]

I highly recommend his book In the Gravest Extreme. A little outdated on the hardware side, but completely worth it for the commentary on mindset (especially) and legal issues.

Anyone who asks me “what gun should I get for personal protection”, I tell them to read this book first, and then we can talk. I keep an extra around to lend out.

[driftdiver]

I don’t know about that. Seems pretty gutsy crashing a helicopter on top of a hog to kill it

ya may have a point there

[Flotsam_Jetsome]

Horee clap, what a braid!

It’s like an Arkansas Toothpick but with extra technical gravitas. Very nice!

[DuncanWaring]

Best ribs I ever ate, though.

Had the outcome been different, the pig mighta said the same thing.

[Spitzensparkin1]

I expect the feds are in possession of the helo now and it will soon disappear and be crushed into scrap. Nothing to cause this “sudden engine failure” will be found. Nothing to see, move along...

This does fit a certain pattern that is emerging.

[driftdiver]

Down here in Florida we sometimes trap or use dogs to catch the hogs. Then we wade into the excitement with the knife.

usual size is 200-300 pound half of which seems to be teeth.

[null and void]

You mean, like this knife?

I don't think that's the knife Kanawa used...

[Daffynition]

These co-ink-a-dinks are getting me all Jesse Ventured.

[null and void]

Thought this would be a good place to share this one...