By Marjorie Lloyd
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The search for the Robinson 44 helicopter, flown by Robert E. Koudelka of Wilson County, ended at 5 p.m. Sunday, November 16, in the channel of the Cumberland River near the Highway 109 bridge.

Large pieces of the helicopter, including the tail rotor blade, were located at a depth of 54 feet, with a side-scan sonar camera provided by Boone County (Kentucky) Water Assistance. Emergency Management Agency Director Ken Weidner stated in a press release that he had contacted Captain Dale Appel of Boone County Water Assistance earlier in the week.

Crews from Sea Tow Salvage, for Atlanta Air Recovery, and Drakes Creek Marina had been-working Friday night until 4 a.m. Saturday, according to Weidner; they resumed the search at 8 a.m. Saturday and continued until 8 p.m., starting again on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Sumner County Emergency Medical Services personnel were on standby at the command center on the Sumner County side of the river.