Coast Guard Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing In Golden Gate Park
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A Coast Guard helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park Thursday after the tail rotor suffered a malfunction.
Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll said the crew was returning from a search prompted by an alert beacon that went off. But after about 30 minutes of searching, they were returning to their base after a warning alerted them of an apparent tail rotor malfunction.
Kroll said the crew decided to land "as soon as possible" because of the critical function of the tail rotor to the helicopter. They happened to be flying over Big Rec Field, located in Golden Gate Park near Lincoln Way and Seventh Avenue, at around 7:45 a.m. when they decided to make an emergency landing.
The helicopter landed safely and crews inspected it and resolved maintenance issues before clearing it for takeoff shortly before 12 p.m.
All previously scheduled activities for the day at Big Rec Field have been canceled, according to the city's Recreation and Park Department.
