Helicopter pilot hurt in crash

A Greenwood man was to undergo surgery today after being injured in a helicopter crash Sunday in Webster County.

Rob Hammons, 36, an experienced helicopter pilot, was piloting a Bell JetRanger, applying herbicides to timber fields. He was flying for Provine Helicopter Services, based in Greenwood.

He radioed to ground crews at about 5:30 p.m. that his helicopter was going down. It crashed about 4 miles south of Highway 404 onto a logging road, according to Bellefontaine Fire Chief Kenny Bingham and Sheriff Phillip Smith. Bingham said the crash site was in the area between 404 Hunting Club and Alva Road to the west.

The radio was destroyed in the crash, but Hammons was able to contact help using a cell phone. Officials said his call was automatically routed to a 911 dispatcher in Calhoun County and transferred to the Webster County 911 Center at 5:38 p.m.

"They were able to radio an already airborne helicopter to the scene until ambulance crews could arrive," said Allan Hammons, Rob's father. "He couldn't get out of the helicopter on his own."

Bingham said the pilot of the other helicopter, after pinpointing the downed chopper, was able to guide emergency responders down the logging road to the crash scene and free Rob Hammons. CareFlight, the medical transport helicopter from North Mississippi Medical Center, landed nearby about 7:10 p.m. to fly Rob Hammons to Tupelo.

Rob Hammons was in NMMC'S intensive care unit Tuesday, when he was listed in stable condition.

"He suffered some pretty serious issues with pain in his back," Allan Hammons said. "We don't know exactly what he has suffered, but we are being optimistic." Smith said a relative of the pilot told him earlier this week that the younger Hammons was scheduled to undergo surgery today to repair spinal damage.

Allan Hammons said weather conditions were not unfavorable to flight.

"The (Federal Aviation Administration) will have to do an investigation before we know anything," Allan Hammons said.

"Until then we don't know if it was a mechanical failure or a fuel problem or what may have caused the crash."

Rob Hammons is a Greenwood native who attended Pillow Academy. He is married to Melinda Hammons and has a daughter, Emma. His father said Rob always wanted to fly and "eventually fell in love with helicopters."

Allan Hammons he appreciated the support shown toward his son by others in the Greenwood community. He said Bob Provine, the owner of Provine Helicopter Services, came to the hospital and has been supportive since the crash.

Provine could not be reached for comment Monday morning. According to the Provine Helicopter Services Web site, not updated since the incident, "in over 20 years of operating helicopters in some of the most demanding conditions on over five million acres of land, we have had only three aviation accidents."

Before the incident, the company had no reports of injuries, damage to timberland or any other property. According to the Web site, the helicopters undergo daily preventive maintenance.

Responding units on Sunday included members of volunteer fire departments from Bellefontaine, Walthall and Calhoun County; Webster County Emergency Medical Services; NMMC's CareFlight; Webster County Emergency Management Agency; Webster County Sheriff's Department; Mathiston Police Department and the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Webster County 911 said command was terminated at 8 p.m.