A close call for a Kauai couple this morning after a pile of lumber fell from a helicopter onto their Haena home.
Mark Soppeland says he and his wife were relaxing at home reading a book, when they heard a loud crash on their lanai.
A private helicopter had been in the middle of a routine delivery to the Limahuli National Tropical Botanical Garden.
According to company officials, an unexpected change in weather conditions is to blame.
"The helicopter pilot was destabilized by a sudden gust of wind and it caused the load to start spinning. He did the correct thing which was to get off shore and gain some elevation, and get behind a mountain to come back up. We don't usually fly near houses," says Dr. David Burney, Director of Conservation at Limahuli National Tropical Botanical Garden.
"I acknowledge the fact that accidents happen.. And I'm just really glad that no body got hurt.. It terrified my dogs.. But like I said - were just glad nobody got hurt," says Soppeland.
The accident caused an estimated $2,000 in damage to the Soppeland's outside lanai.
The Limahuli Garden stopped operations for the day and assigned a crew to repair the couple's lanai, free-of-charge.
Officials at the garden are now looking into alternative helicopter routes for future delivery flights.
