SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing its search for a helicopter that was piloted by a KFMB-TV photographer headed to Long Beach for a training flight.

Sean O'Kane, (pictured, right), who is also a Navy reservist, was at the controls of the chopper, 10News reported.

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Search Continues For Helicopter, Pilot Hear From O'Kane Family Friend

Rubber parts and a seat cushion (pictured, right) believed to be from the helicopter have been found about a mile off the coast of Encinitas.

The Coast Guard also checked a small oil slick about a mile offshore from Encinitas for signs of aviation fuel, but the results were "inconclusive," Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Jamie Devitt-Chacon said.

A Coast Guard helicopter and cutter were searching a 35-square-mile area near Moonlight State Beach, Devitt-Chacon said. An additional 64 miles of coastline were also being checked.

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MISSING HELICOPTER, PILOT SLIDESHOW: Images Of Search Effort

The Robinson R-22 owned by Corporate Helicopters left Montgomery Field after 10 a.m. and had not arrived at O'Kane's planned destination in Long Beach, the station reported.

O'Kane had asked controllers at McClellan Palomar Airport for permission to increase the helicopter's altitude from 100 to 400 feet to get out of clouds, said Carlsbad police Lt. Kelly Cain. Moments later, controllers lost contact with the aircraft, Cain said.

The station reported that Kane was an experienced pilot and was on the way to Long Beach for a check ride needed to obtain a license.

Corporate Helicopters has not releasing a statement at this time. However, they did confirm that O'Kane was the only person aboard the helicopter.

O'Kane parents live in Ireland and offered the following statement through a family friend.

"They are holding out hope of finding Sean alive until they get definite information that Sean is gone and won't be walking back through the door with a smile on his face that we all know," family friend Collette Creegan said.