The Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter based at Wetzel County Hospital made a precautionary landing in a field off of Churchfork Road just east of Hundred near state Route 69 at approximately 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Bradley Troy, Air Evac’s program director for the Wetzel County base, said the Bell 206 Long Range helicopter was on its way back from Morgantown where they had delivered a patient when the pilot got an indication that there might be a hydraulic problem with the aircraft. “He could feel something wasn’t right,” said Troy.

According to safety protocol, the pilot made a controlled landing. No one was injured and there was no damage to the aircraft from the landing.

“The pilot did an excellent job and the crew did an excellent job,” noted Troy.

They dispatched the maintenance department who determined there was a leak in one of the hydraulic lines. The part was ordered and installed the next day. The crew did a test flight from that location Friday afternoon and found everything to be in workable order.

“The people out there in Hundred were just fantastic,” said Troy. “I can’t thank them enough.” Not only did the area residents come to the site to make sure everyone was safe, they even brought them a jug of lemonade to enjoy.

“The safety of our patients and the safety of our crew is our number one priority,” promised Troy. During the time that the helicopter was out of service, the crew out of Parkersburg was covering any needs for their services.