BURNEY, Ind. (AP) - Authorities say the main rotor came off a
medical helicopter before it crashed into a farm field, killing
three crew members.

A National Transportation Safety Board spokesman and the Decatur
County Sheriff say rotor parts were found hundreds of yards away
from the fuselage after the crash Sunday.

Witnesses told investigators that the helicopter's nose tipped
down before it crashed and exploded in the field near the town of
Burney, about 40 miles southeast of Indianapolis.

The helicopter was operated by Missouri-based Air Evac Lifeteam.
It was not carrying a patient when it crashed.

The NTSB could release a preliminary report by Friday, but the
official cause of the crash isn't expected for at least nine
months.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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