Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

May 27, 2007 · Bell 47G · N7763

Hayden, AL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 27, 2007
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Hayden, AL
Aircraft
Bell 47G
Tail Number
N7763
Operator
William Latham
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA07LA102

The student pilot was repositioning the newly purchased helicopter off of a trailer to an area inside his private property. The student pilot's intended landing site was an uneven cow pasture. A witness observed that the approach of the helicopter was a steep descent. The helicopter landed hard, bounced back up, and the tail section started to move close to a tree. At that moment, the helicopter climbed quickly before it rolled over. It looked to the witness as if the helicopter was out of control. The main rotor blades struck the ground several times as it rolled over.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during hover, following a bounced landing.

Full Narrative

On May 27, 2007, about 1108 central daylight time, a Bell 47G, N7763, registered to Whirlybirds Inc. and operated by a student pilot, impacted with terrain during landing in Hayden, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The student was killed and the helicopter incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from within the student pilot’s property about 1100. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the student pilot had just purchased the helicopter and transported it to his property on a trailer. The helicopter was flown off the trailer to an area where he usually landed, an uneven cow pasture, within the student pilot’s property. A witness observed that the approach of the helicopter was a steep descent. The helicopter landed hard, bounced back up, and the tail section started to move close to a tree. At that moment the helicopter went up fast, about 25 feet above the ground, before it rolled over. It looked to the witness as if the helicopter was out of control. The main rotor blades struck the ground as it was rolling over. He lost site of the helicopter as it continued past an area behind a fence. When he approached the helicopter, the witness immediately observed the helicopter was damaged and the pilot had received serious injuries. The witness added that the accident landing was the student pilot's first landing in the accident helicopter. An examination of the recovered airframe, flight control system components, engine and its system components by an FAA inspector revealed no evidences of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The pilot, age 63, held a student pilot certificate with a helicopter endorsement. He was issued an FAA third-class medical certificate in September –2004, and reported "0" flight hours. In August 2006, he was issued an FAA third-class medical certificate and the student pilot reported 160 hours of flight experience at that time. A review of the student pilot’s logbooks by the FAA inspector revealed the student pilot did not have the 90-day solo endorsement as required by 14 CFR 61.87(n). An autopsy of the student pilot was conducted by the Medical Center Blount County, Oneonta, Alabama. The cause of death was reported as multiple injuries due to blunt trauma. Toxicology tests were negative for drugs.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:08 CDT
Nearest AirportPRIVATE (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 47G
Tail NumberN7763
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWilliam Latham
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsAvco Lycoming · VO-435-A1E · Reciprocating · 200
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 63 · Third Class · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter30.18 inHg
Observation Time16:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data