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

[Ole Okie]

Actually, he tried to pop it with an AR-15. Then he tried to cut up the weapon with a saw.

Heck, if I couldn't hit a helicopter from across the street with an AR-15, I would cut it up too.

Must have been an hellacious keyhole.

[TADSLOS]

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.

You are, most likely, living under uncontrolled airspace, which generally means that a pilot may land his aircraft at his discretion with permission of the landowner. If the pilot has filed a flight plan, it is his responsibility to notify the FAA that he is down and safe, therby closing it, or closing that particular leg, if it is a stopover flight plan. An open flight plan that is not closed within a certain timeframe of filed ETA (I believe it's an hour)causes the authorities to begin a search.

Flying and landing in controlled airspace is a whole other matter, and generally depends on the airspace classification(B,C, or D) and floor the airspace begins at where the pilot intends to land as to whether the aircraft can be landed under normal operations with or without notification of the controlling authority (Tower/Air traffic Control/ FAA Regional Center).

A pilot can land his aircraft to the ground without permission at his discretion during an emergency or precautionary situation

[goodieD]

with the copter hauled upside down on a winch (like sharks).
A real FarSide moment.

[William Terrell]

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

Elevation of sights? Certainly not downward. No spiraling observed in wind from downdraft, and if the damn thing nods at me, I'll nod back.

[APBaer]

"the government should back off just a tad. People are panicing."

Reminds me of the very funny scenes in the movie "The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming"

[RightWhale]

I'm thinking the projectile might nose into the wind.

[William Terrell]

Empty 20 round magazine. If miss, hide.

[BlessingInDisguise]

"Sorry folks, not every situation is "TERRORISM" and this is the reason why the government should back off just a tad. People are panicing."

No, some people are just idiots.

[arm958]

They threatened and he told them to get hosed. They didn't arrest him and stopped the over flights. Lucky he did not get shot or put away.

Nah, the CIA hates bad publicity. They were just trying to intimidate him and make sure he wasn't some sort of wacko. However, they backed down when he called their bluff. Besides, you mentioned that your friend works for the military in some capacity. Maybe it's just professional courtesy that they let him slide.

He certainly did get their attention though. How else could he have handled this? It's not like the CIA has its helicopter black ops units listed in the phone book.

[Centurion2000]

"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.

Well, it's a good first reaction. I'd be glad to have him as a neighbor.

[tracer]

Wella, wella. WMAL (WashDC) reports that the shooter has been arrested....

[csvset]

John Chwaszczewski of James City County fired a rifle at a helicopter when it landed near his home Saturday. He later used a saw to cut the weapon, which he dumped in the trash.

Brett England/Daily Press

Copyright © 2002, Daily Press

[TADSLOS]

Bottom Line: The pilot is an idiot for landing in a residential neighborhood and the neighbor with an itchy trigger finger is an idiot for shooting at him.

[Teacup]

Holy Cow! I would have just called the police, LOL. Hey, Mudpuppy, are the fighter jets flying over your house? They are over here. All day long. Loud too. Gets the dogs up and all.

[JusticeLives]

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

Ah, so who are you? If you're not Henry Bowman, then you don't know what you're talking about :)

[JusticeLives]

You're alot closer than that other Shooter, IMHO :)

[Shooter 2.5]

"If you're not Henry Bowman"

I mentioned a couple of days ago that if someone starts mentioning movie plots, they already lost the argument. I'll have to revise that to include fiction.

Again, let me say that the only drawback to pistols and revolvers is the sight radius.

[Consort]

Oh, that John Chwaszczewski.

[Freebird Forever]

Heck, if I couldn't hit a helicopter from across the street with an AR-15, I would cut it up too.

Now now now....
It's a poor workman who blames his tools.

[in the Arena]

Should have used a Garand...