3 killed in California helicopter crash

Published 2:22 pm Sunday, February 10, 2013

LOS ANGELES — Authorities say three people have been killed in a pre-dawn helicopter crash in a rural area of northern Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County Fire dispatcher Robert Diaz says the crash occurred about 3:40 a.m. Sunday at the Polsa Rosa Ranch in Acton. Diaz says everyone on board died.

The three people have not been identified.

Philip Sokoloski, a spokesman for FilmL.A., which processes filming permits for location shootings in the Los Angeles region, said a production company had been approved to use a helicopter for a reality TV show. The shoot was scheduled to go from Saturday afternoon into Saturday night.

Permit paperwork shows Bongo, Inc. was working on an untitled military-theme program. Records also show Crossbow Helicopters received approval to participate in filming from the Federal Aviation Administration.

“We wouldn’t have referenced helicopter activity if we didn’t already have pre-approval from the FAA,” Sokoloski said.

Television footage showed mangled wreckage in a rugged canyon area near Soledad Canyon Road.

According to its website, Polsa Rosa is a “movie ranch” where film crews can utilize a variety of terrains as well as two airstrips. The ranch, according to the Internet Movie Database, was used in “Windtalkers” and last year’s remake of “Red Dawn.”