Deadly helicopter crash

TITUSVILLE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - An experimental helicopter crash claims the life of a Rockledge man. Detectives say 66-year old Edgar Thompson was piloting the aircraft.

The chopper went down just before 2 p.m. Sunday behind the Publix Supermarket center on Garden Street in Titusville. Titusville Police say Thompson took off from the Dunn Airpark on Williamson and flew about a half mile before crashing.

Thompsons wife told FOX 35 he was an engineer by trade working for Lockheed Martin for 30 years. She says he spent three years building this experimental helicopter in his garage.

He uploaded video and pictures of his aircrafts and his flights on the internet. Fellow aviator William Raulerson said he has known Thompson for years and when he saw police at the airpark he knew something wasn't right.

"The police and I walked down to Eddy's hanger where he had his helicopter and his car was there we looked in the hanger and the helicopter was gone," said Raulerson. Raulerson and Thompson's wife both say the experimental aircraft had had mechanical problems in the past, But Thompson's wife says there were no problems this week.

The FAA will not be investigating this crash because the aircraft is experimental, so Titusville Police are investigating. Thompson was also well known in the area for playing the saxophone at Lous Blues in Indialantic.