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Pilot Walks Away From Palo Alto Helicopter Crash

PALO ALTO (CBS/AP) - Authorities said a helicopter pilot escaped injury when she was forced to make an emergency landing in a wetlands area near Palo Alto Airport.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the Robinson R-22 helicopter went down around 4:45 p.m. Thursday as the pilot experienced engine problems while approaching the airport.

"The pilot made an emergency landing short of the airport in a marshy area right near Embarcadero Road and Highway 101," Gregor said.

KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:

The FAA said the pilot, who was the only person on board, was not hurt. Her name has not been released.

She was treated and released on the scene, not even needing to be transported to the hospital.

The pilot is a certified flight pilot for airplanes and is working on her pilot's license.

After the landing, the helicopter was on its side in about four feet of water. The FAA and NTSB are investigating and in charge of the cleanup.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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