Helicopter Fatal

ELKO, Nev. - A helicopter mechanic who had been helping fire crews was killed over the weekend in a bizarre accident at the Elko Regional Airport.

Kenneth Edward Boeh, 41, Marysville, Calif., was struck by the rotor blades of the retrofitted firefighting aircraft after it landed for refueling on Saturday, Elko police said.

The helicopter had been released from a fire earlier in the day and was scheduled to transfer to California before the tragic mishap.

The pilot and co-pilot were inside the cockpit and did not see what happened, police said.

They had turned the chopper motors off and the blades were coasting down at the time of the accident.

The victim was struck from behind and killed instantly. His body was discovered on top of the helicopter, police said