PLANT CITY, Fla. — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened an investigation into the crash of a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) helicopter that made an emergency landing in Plant City.
At about 4 p.m. Wednesday (May 1), two pilots reported an emergency landing in a field off County Road 39 while traveling back to the David Gee Aviation Complex.
The helicopter had two people on board, and neither person was injured, but according to HCSO, the helicopter was damaged.
NTSB said the helicopter will be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.
Corporal Jeramy Butler was flying the helicopter, and the passenger was Sheriff’s Pilot Robert Bateman.
Butler has been with the HCSO aviation unit since 2014 and has no reported flight incidents, according to HCSO.
Officials said a preliminary report is expected within 30 days of the accident. Once released, it will appear on NTSB's Daily Publication Dashboard.
Federal Aviation Administration is taking part in the investigation as well.
A Hardee County grandmother is on trial this week for leaving her 7-month-old granddaughter in a hot car where the baby died —the second grandchild to die under Tracey Nix's care. ABC Action News I-Team Reporter Kylie McGivern sat down with Kaila Nix just days ahead of her mother's trial for aggravated manslaughter.
