Pilot Suffers Serious Injuries In Sanford Helicopter Crash

A pilot was seriously injured when the helicopter he was driving crashed at the Sanford airport.

Sanford Police and Fire were called to the Sanford Regional Airport just before 10:30 Saturday morning to a report of a helicopter accident, next to one of the runways. Upon arrival, they found residents tending to the pilot, 50-year-old Jack White of Bowdoinham and LifeFlight was at the scene, rendering life support. White was taken to Maine Maine Medical with severe injuries.

Witnesses told police that the helicopter appeared to be practicing landing and/or near-ground maneuvers, and was close to the ground when it began spinning out of control The helicopter eventually struck the ground, incapacitating the aircraft on the grass.

An investigation determined that White was on a cross country flight as part of the helicopter licensing process. He had flown from Sanford Regional Airport to multiple Maine and New Hampshire locations, and was returning home when the accident happened. The exact cause of the spin has yet to be determined.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will continue to investigate this accident.