Helicopter Crashes at Kitchawan Farm in Yorktown

Update: Investigation of the cause of the helicopter crash at Kitchawan Farm in Yorktown could take up to a year, FAA officials. The identities of the pilot and passenger have also been released. Click here to read more.

Officials began dismantling the helicopter before it was removed from the property.

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A helicopter crashed down at Kitchawan Farm in Yorktown Friday evening, according to police and eyewitnesses. 

The craft crashed around 6:30 p.m. at a field on 716 Kitchawan Rd., a private residence.

Police said the two helicopter occupants were not seriously injured and according to EMS workers the two men refused medical attention.

The occupants' identities, and the chopper's destination, have not been released.

The N443FD helicopter – a 1955 Sikorsky S-55B – made a hard landing at the farm's field and flipped over on its side, Holly Baker of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told Patch. She said the crash may have been caused by a malfunctioning fuel pump. There was also fuel spill on the field, according to Yorktown firefighters. 

A neighbor told Patch he heard and watched the chopper go back and forth in distress. He described the engine to be sputtering and the helicopter was flying low. 

Baker said assessment of the damage to the helicopter is still ongoing. FAA investigators were on their way to the scene Friday evening. Police were still at scene investigating at 8 p.m. Responding agencies were Yorktown police, fire and and EMS personnel, as well as New York State and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) police. 

The crash site and home—a sprawling structure—are difficult to discern in the darkness. Police believe it was the homeowner at 716 Kitchawan who initially notified authorities.

Just a mile and a half away from this home, a small plane crashed in Yorktown last April, leaving two with minor injuries—a "miracle," police said.