Instructor, student okay after helicopter rolls onto its side during landing near Pembroke Pines, officials say

An investigation is underway after the Pembroke Pines Police Department and other agencies said a helicopter rolled onto its side Saturday morning while landing.

The department said it happened sometime before 8:20 a.m. near Southwest US-27 and Pembroke Road. Police report no injuries as of publication, but did warn traffic may be impacted.

Pembroke Pines Police said it was helping Miramar Police and Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue. Miramar Police said the two people inside the helicopter were an instructor and a student.

The FAA later told CBS News Miami that the helicopter was a Robinson R22 and that the incident occurred around 7:45 a.m. 

A search of FAA records using an N-number provided by the agency revealed that the helicopter had a valid certificate and was fractionally owned by a limited liability company in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The LLC's name includes the N-number. 

First responders airlifted the instructor and student from the crash site, which officials noted was difficult to access.

Kristy Kiernan, a professor of aviation safety, said the low-energy nature of the impact likely prevented serious injuries or fatalities. She added that the Robinson 22 is a common aircraft used for flight instruction and that Federal Aviation Administration records indicate the helicopter was properly registered.

The FAA is investigating the cause of the crash. Investigators have not released the names of those on board but said they expect to release a preliminary report on the next business day.

"We look at it as an opportunity to learn," Kiernan said. "Not just for the individuals who were in the aircraft but also for the industry."