12/09/2007 Shizuoka, Japan
A male pilot died and a female mechanic was unconscious after their helicopter under contract with public broadcaster NHK crashed in a pond in Shizuoka City's Aoi Ward at 10:55 a.m. The pilot, identified as Yoshiaki Komiya, 57, told the chopper operator just before the crash that the helicopter's rudder pedal for changing direction was not working properly and the helicopter lacked stability for landing.

The mechanic was identified as Sachiyo Kameyama, 33, police said.
The helicopter involved was a Eurocopter EC 135T2 operated by Tokyo-based All Nippon Helicopter Co, an affiliate of All Nippon Airways Co.
It was scheduled to land at Shizuoka heliport for refueling on its way from Tokyo to Osaka. The helicopter left Tokyo at around 10 a.m. for an annual checkup.