Retired Officer Seriously Injured In The Mishap

A retired Little Rock (AR) police officer was seriously injured August 16th when the helicopter in which he was testing newly-installed equipment tipped over, causing the main rotor to contact the pavement in a parking lot.

The incident was captured on surveillance video at the scene.

The aircraft, a 2001 Bell TH-67 can be seen parked on a platform with the rotors turning. The aircraft rises off the trailer and attempts to hover, but the officer appears to be having difficulty maintaining control. The starboard landing skid gets caught under the platform, and the aircraft tips over, causing the main rotor to strike the pavement.

Television station KATV reports that the officer, who was identified as William "Bill" Denio, suffered a serious head injury in the accident.

The Little Rock Police Department said a straight-line wind knocked the aircraft off the platform, and that it was not airborne, though the video clearly shows that it was. The accident is under investigation.

(Image from video posted to Facebook by the Little Rock Police Department)

FMI: Video, Source report