By Tove Tupper
 
October 13, 2009
 
NEAR FOSSIL, Ore. - The Wheeler County Sheriff's Office have identified 37-year-old Daniel Townsend as the pilot killed in a helicopter crash Monday near Fossil in Central Oregon.
 
Townsend, who was based in Medford, was working for Jacksonville-based Pacific Rim Helicopters.
 
The accident occurred near the Fossil and Spray area at about 8:45 a.m. The helicopter was hanging a power line in the area where it went down. A report from the Federal Aviation Administration says the main rotor struck the top of a pole and crashed. The FAA's report says the helicopter was manufactured by McDonnell Douglas Helicopters and owned by Pacific Rim Helicopters.
 
The Wheeler County Sheriff's Office says the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation by the FAA and NTSB.
 
Townsend flew a helicopter as part of the James Kim family search in 2006. During that time, he worked with Carson Helicopters, who were hired by the Kim family to help with the search effort.
 
Friends of Townsend say he was both a licensed helicopter mechanic and commercial helicopter pilot.