On May 27, 2007, a Bell 47G (registration N7763) operated by William Latham was involved in an aviation accident near Hayden, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during hover, following a bounced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot performing a helicopter repositioning to an uneven cow pasture experienced a hard landing, bounce, and rollover, with main rotor blades striking the ground multiple times.
Incident Details
A student pilot was repositioning a newly purchased helicopter from a trailer to an area within his private property. The intended landing site was an uneven cow pasture. A witness observed the helicopter's approach as a steep descent.
Witness Account
According to the witness, the helicopter landed hard, bounced back up, and the tail section began moving close to a tree. At that moment, the helicopter climbed quickly before it rolled over. The witness reported that the helicopter appeared to be out of control during the sequence.
Sequence of Events
After the hard landing and bounce, the main rotor blades struck the ground several times as the helicopter rolled over. The event involved no other aircraft or obstacles aside from the tree mentioned. No further details about the outcome or condition of the aircraft or pilot are available from the source.