Helicopter crashes, pilot killed

COMSTOCK TWP. (Newschannel 3) - A helicopter has crashed in Comstock Twp., killing its pilot.

The helicopter went down late Friday morning in the Chipman Preserve, a large chunk of land between East Main and "H" Ave., which is between Comstock and Galesburg.

The crash scene is about a half-mile into the woods, and is also near the home and former greenhouse business of the man who died in the accident, Larry Boven.

Boven's neighbor, Darren Cramer, says Boven has been a pilot for years.

"Always used to seeing him flying in plane, (I would) go out and watch him on Saturday mornings," said Cramer.

Friday, the 68-year-old was flying his helicopter over the wooded preserve when it suddenly went down. Someone who lived nearby on East Main saw the crash and called 9-1-1, telling investigators it sounded like the engine quit, and then fell to the ground.

"He has many years of helicopter experience, he recently obtained this helicopter," said Sgt. Charles Stack of the Kalamazoo Co. Sheriff's Department.

Boven's daughter Laurie Pomeroy says he sold his greenhouse business last year, so he could spend more time flying, fishing, and having fun, and just bought the helicopter on Thursday.

"He was so outgoing, he loved people, loved to meet new people, getting out and enjoying new places and new faces," she said.

Pomeroy says her family received calls all day Friday from fellow greenhouse owners in the area.

The FAA was out at the crash site for the majority of the afternoon, searching for clues as to why the helicopter crashed, and the wreckage was removed from the scene on a large flatbed truck around 6 o'clock.

The chopper was a Hiller FH 1100, and was originally designed in the early 60s as a military light observation helicopter, but went into commercial production in 1966.

Boven's helicopter that was built in 1970, and was registered for agricultural use.