Copter landing surprises neighborhood (Resident opens fire on chopper)

(Hampton Roads, VA) Daily Press ^ | 7.19.02 | Brian Whitson and Patti Rosenberg

[mhking]

Copter landing surprises neighborhood
Police are investigating incident

By Brian Whitson and Patti Rosenberg
Daily Press

July 18, 2002, 3:02 PM EDT

JAMES CITY -- When John Chwaszczewski bought his house two years ago on Magruder Lane, he wanted a quiet place to relax and vacation during the summer months.

For the most part, that had been the case -- until Saturday morning when the neighborhood quickly became less of the vacation spot and more like something out of "Men In Black."

It was about 8 a.m. when Chwaszczewski, who was doing a little painting in his detached garage, heard a thunderous sound that sounded like it was right on top of him. He looked outside and saw a white helicopter hovering just 20 feet above the garage.

"I didn't know what was going on," said Chwaszczewski, who is a semi-retired construction worker who lives most of the year in Port Monmouth, N.J.

The helicopter then swooped down, just missing the top of his house and car, and landed in a vacant lot across the street, he said.

"It damned near took off the roof of my garage," Chwaszczewski said. "I ran across the street and the first thing I did was get the number of the helicopter."

The second thing Chwaszczewski did was run back inside to get his gun. When he looked out of his house, he saw a man hidden behind a tree, Chwaszczewski said. The man wore a business suit and ran over to the helicopter carrying a large black box, he said.

"My initial reaction was, this had got to be terrorists," he said. "I fired two shots. I tried to knock the windshield out of it. I don't know if I hit anything."

Chwaszczewski would not say what kind of gun he fired. He said the helicopter took off and he thought about firing more rounds but didn't for fear of making it crash in the neighborhood.

"It just happened so quick," he said.

The pilot of the helicopter insists a panel light came on and he landed as a precaution.

Police are investigating the incident to determine whether the helicopter malfunctioned or whether the pilot had planned the landing all along.

The passenger who was picked up lives across the street from where the helicopter landed.

Police say the man may not have been hiding behind the tree, but he may have been waiting for the helicopter.

The pilot said he wasn't aware shots were being fired when he landed.

Brian Whitson can be reached at 221-7220 or by e-mail at bwhitson@dailypress.com

[RightWhale]

Adjust elevation

But which direction? Projectile design could be a factor causing precession and nutation.

[billhilly]

Naugas, on the other hand ...................Probably a black box full of their hides.

[willyone]

I used to know a guy who worked for one of the military support operations on the East Coast. He had a nice spread up around williamsburg where he kept horses. The CIA used to fly over his place and spook his horses which really ticked him off. One day he went outside and pointed a rifle at one of the helos. He was visited by some Federal cops who told him not to do it again. He told them stop flying over here and I will. They threatened and he told them to get hosed. They did'nt arrest him and stopped the over flights. Lucky he did not get shot or put away.

[TADSLOS]

Why? Is it illegal to land a helocopter where you want? A helocopter landed in my front yard when my neighbor had a heart attack last year. No one cared then?

It can be, depending on the airspace restrictions and specific FAA regulations governing authorized landing areas for aircraft. My suspicion is that the pilot knew better but took the chance, then tried to cover his butt by claiming a mechanical emergency.

I'm guessing that your friend was picked up by an air ambulance service. They have much more flexibility on where they can land, as a general rule, than the average commercial or privately owned helicopter, due to their unique mission.

[zoyd]

"I didn't know what was going on," says Chwaszczewski...

So he runs inside, gets a gun, and starts blasting away at the chopper?

It's a funny story, but bizarre, and it sounds like Chwaszczewski needs to soothe that itchy trigger finger of his...

[TADSLOS]

But which direction? Projectile design could be a factor causing precession and nutation.

If the helicopter's on the ground at flat pitch, it won't have that much of an effect on the projectile's ballistics. Once in the air, at an in ground effect stationary hover, however, the air turbulence can effect the projectile (generally) upwards to some degree, based on the projectile's weight, muzzle velocity and position of the shooter to the aircraft (above or below).

[DoughtyOne]

Perhaps I'm wrong, but my understanding would be that not just any ole helicopter can land in a residential neighborhood. Okay field of knowledge, folks am I all wet on this? Perhaps I am.

[dead]

Well, guess what. If he had a "panel light" it was probably a chip light -- and ya can't really take off again without at least taking a look at the chip detector in the appropriate gearbox. Convenient excuse, though.

Not half as convenient as the fact that his buddy just happened to be waiting in the lot where he had an “emergency” landing.

My only question is – who is in more trouble, legally – the idiot pilot or the idiot shooter?

[genefromjersey]

Here's a guy who runs into his house, grabs a gun, and starts shooting at a helicopter that isn't even on his property : Yikes !

Is he-in any conceivable way-under attack ? Nope.

The worst part about it is where is year-round home is located: in New Jersey-about 10 miles from where I live. Double Yikes !!

Now, perhaps, some of you will begin to grasp why NJ has the most restrictive gun laws in the USA :we have more nuts on the street than in the trees !!!

[MudPuppy]

check out this thread.

p.s. 53's and 46's fly over my house all the time....and I like it :) I would never think of shooting at them (besides their guns are bigger than mine)

[KSCITYBOY]

LOL - Once again the FreeRepublic has the best social commentary. I can just see this guy standing proudly next to the copter he shot down.

[Shooter 2.5]

"Probably a short barrel pistol in a small caliber - not accurate as far as across the street.

Urban legend. The only thing that hinders pistols or revolvers is the sight radius.

[TADSLOS]

Depends on the situation

FAA Reg Part 91

Good luck sorting through all the possible scenarios.

[FateAmenableToChange]

And aren't they supposed to be black helicopters?

The official UN / NWO web page states that supposed observations of black helicopters are merely the rantings of right-wing, conservative gun nuts. As illustration of the fact that these dangerous right-wing, conservative, gun nut, militia extremists are lying, UN/NWO points out that its helicopters are not black, but rather are painted a very dark green.

[Shooter 2.5]

We had a black helicopter zoom over the firing line at the gunrange I was at. It landed in the parking lot and the pilot talked to the owner and they left.
I talked to the owner of the range a week later and he told me about the nice time he and his friend, the pilot had. The owner is ex-Army Air Corps.

[monday]

"Okay field of knowledge, folks am I all wet on this? Perhaps I am."

I don't know either. I live out in the boonies, so what might be ok out where I live might not be in other areas? I also live in Texas and we tend to be pretty tolerant around here. Unlikely to find people shooting at you for landing on their property.

[DoughtyOne]

You're thinking alone my thoughts with what you said. Thanks. I would suspect it's a lot more acceptable to land on a few acres than on a city lot between buildings.

[ladtx]

If I remember correctly this is a Federal offense, the guy could be in some really deep do.

[VRWC_minion]

Let me guess. The helicopter was black and the guy with the gun listens to Art Bell ?

[Redcloak]

That's why he missed. The black helicopter was hiding behind the white one.