A helicopter that crashed near Phoenix killed five people, including Thomas J. Stewart, owner of Services Group of America, the parent company of Food Services of America, which moved four years ago from Seattle to Scottsdale.

The other four who died weren't immediately identified, but Arizona state Sen. Jonathan Paton eulogized Thomas, his wife and one of his six children on the Senate floor.

A short time later, the Scottsdale-based food service distributing and real estate firm issued a statement about Stewart's death.

WATCH IT: Helicopter Crash In North Phoenix Kills 3

Thomas Stewart - better image Thomas Stewart /2010/0215/22573211.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_360X480.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_68X90.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_135X180.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_101X135.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_300X400.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_240X320.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_45X60.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_113X150.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_34X45.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_180X240.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_90X120.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_225X300.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_23X30.jpg /2010/0215/22573211_270X360.jpg Thomas Stewart

Stewart was a politically conservative businessman who held annual fundraisers for the GOP at his sprawling Vashon Island estate that was put up for sale in 2007.

In its statement, the company said Stewart "was a long-time philanthropist who supported education and the arts; a community activist championing free enterprise; a life-long adventurer; and a foodservice industry leader."

The statement said Services Group of America is a $2.7 billion company which is ranked 157th on the Forbes' Largest Private Companies in the U.S. list and that the "roots of the company go back 40 years when Stewart was building Stevedoring Services of America in Seattle."

The Eurocopter EC135 went down in a rural area just north of Phoenix. A Maricopa County sheriff's spokeswoman said mechanical failure is suspected because witnesses saw parts flying off the stricken aircraft right before it crashed.

Residents in the area of the crash heard noises and saw parts flying off the helicopter before it went down.

"I saw the helicopter flying in the air and that stuff that goes round, up, the rotors were coming apart and then I said, 'OK something wrong is gonna happen,"' witness Nicoleta Nork told KTVK-TV. "And I just saw it rolling, rolling and boom, then big smoke and yeah, terrible."

The area is a mix of rolling hills, dry desert washes and lots of houses. The chopper came down in a wash between two homes, Smith said.

"It's a pretty horrific crash," she said. "It's just obliterated."

The debris scattered over hundreds of feet, and deputies were contacting nearby residents to make sure none were hurt and that all the debris was collected for use by investigators.

Federal Aviation Administration were investigating, spokesman Ian Gregor said, and a National Transportation Safety Board investigator was expected to arrive on Monday.