Bee blamed for causing minor helicopter crash

[July 15, 2008]  WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (AP) -- Wood County authorities said an Oklahoma man piloting a crop-dusting helicopter crashed after a bee got sucked into the cockpit and stung him.

Deputy Ted Ashbeck said the chopper was only four feet off the ground, and the pilot was unhurt when the tail rotor smashed into the ground Friday.

Ashbeck said the pilot was spraying a cranberry marsh, where beehives are set up to promote pollination. As the helicopter flew above the hives, at least one bee was sucked inside.

Terry Solf, 65, of Aline, Okla., told investigators the bee stung him, diverting his attention just long enough for him to crash. No one else was aboard.

Solf said he's flown helicopters for more than 30 years.

Ashbeck says the chopper was "pretty banged up."

[Associated Press]

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