Concern Network
Article Outline
- December 27, 2007
- January 1, 2008
- January 3, 2008
- January 12, 2008
- January 13, 2008
- January 16, 2008
- January 18, 2008
- January 21, 2008
- February 5, 2008
- February 12, 2008
The Concern Network shares verified information to alert medical transport programs when an accident/incident has occurred. Both air and ground programs are encouraged to participate. If you have questions, contact CONCERN Coordinator David Kearns at (800)-525-3712 or www.concern-network.org.
December 27, 2007
At approximately 1800 the Bell 212 carrying a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Air Rescue (Rialto, CA) crew and patient were on short final to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center when the pilot watched the oil pressure gauge fall to 0. The oil pressure warning light did not come on. Neither the pilot nor the crew felt or heard anything abnormal. The pilot continued approach, and the crew landed safely. The patient was transported inside without incident. The chief mechanic was called out and inspected the aircraft; both he and the pilot decided it was likely a faulty gauge. The pilot flew the aircraft back to the hangar safely, while the flight paramedic and physician flew the Sheriff's Patrol helicopter back. Maintenance crew later found that the oil pressure sensor had broken. The weather was clear and not a factor.
January 1, 2008
PHI Air Medical (Morehead, KY) completed a patient transport to the University Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. After the patient was safely delivered to the ED, the flight crew was attempting to depart the rooftop helipad with gusting winds present. Upon takeoff, the EC135 experienced a hard landing on the helipad. Minor damage was sustained, but no injuries were reported. PHI is its own vendor.
January 3, 2008
An Intermountain Life Flight (Salt Lake City, UT) team responded to a rotor MVA scene with multiple patients. The Agusta 109 K-2 was shut down in the east-bound lane of a secondary state highway. Traffic was stopped in both directions, and the pilot was assisting the medical team. An ambulance departing the scene west-bound impacted the tip cap of one main rotor blade and damaged it. The ambulance driver stopped and located the pilot and informed him of the incident. The aircraft was inspected by company mechanics, and the rotor blade was changed on site the same night. The weather was clear and not a factor.
January 12, 2008
The Life Flight (Missoula, MT) crew had just repositioned the AStar 350 B3 to an alternate helipad that we use to escape the local valley fog that sometimes covers our primary hospital helipad. After landing, shutting down, and exiting the aircraft, the crew plugged in the Tanis heaters and the other external shore line used to charge equipment, using a helipad outlet that we had used many times in the past. Almost immediately, the crew noticed black smoke exiting around the external exhaust. A small flame was seen by the pilot under the cowling below the main rotor. Both extension cords were unplugged, and the pilot emptied the onboard, handheld Halon fire extinguisher into the transmission compartment. No other flames were seen after that point.
The fire department was called. They arrived 5 minutes later and their thermal heat scanner could detect no hot spots. The mechanic's inspection found that three of the six Tanis heaters were “fried.” No other damage was found on the helicopter, and after replacing the fire extinguisher, it was placed back into service later that day.
Upon inspection by an electrician, it was found that the 110v outlet that the helicopter was plugged into was actually producing 220v. The exact cause for this malfunction is not known due to the buried cable and wintertime conditions. The electrical lines were replaced and operational the following day. Metro Aviation is the program vendor.
January 13, 2008
While landing at scene in rural Travis County, the main rotor blade of the Travis County STAR Flight (Austin, TX) helicopter came in contact with a juniper tree. The weather was clear and not a factor. Program management and maintenance were notified. Maintenance reported to the scene and inspected the EC145. There was no damage, and the aircraft was returned to service. The program is its own vendor.
January 16, 2008
A Gallup Med Flight team with patient and passenger aboard was en route to Albuquerque, NM, when they experienced cabin depressurization as a result of unexpected breakage with partial loss of the front copilot windshield. The Cessna 414G pilot maintained full control and was able to make an emergency landing at the base in Gallup, NM, within 8 minutes. Patient care was maintained, with no injuries reported by patient, passenger, or flight team. Patient transport was continued by another company aircraft. An FAA report was filed and the aircraft released for repair. The weather was clear and not a factor. Gallup Flying Service is the vendor.
January 18, 2008
While an EagleMed (Wichita, KS) crew was en route to a sending facility, an engine chip detector warning light illuminated, requiring the AS350 pilot to land as soon as possible. A night, unaided, off airport landing was conducted; no one was injured. Maintenance crew was dispatched and aircraft was recovered by ground transport. As of yet, the cause of engine problem was not determined. The weather was clear and not a factor. The program is its own vendor.
January 21, 2008
HealthNet Aeromedical Services in West Virginia filed a pair of reports. On 1/13/08, a preflight inspection of the Charleston-based EC 135 P1 revealed a 10-inch, 45-degree angle crack on the trailing edge of one of the main rotor blades. It was difficult to see from the ground but was clearly visible from the top. The aircraft was taken out of service and the blade replaced. The aircraft is back in service.
On 1/21/08 a preflight inspection of the Morgantown-based aircraft revealed a 1-inch, 45-degree crack on the trailing edge of one of the main rotor blades. The aircraft was taken out of service and the blade is being replaced.
Air Methods is the vendor.
February 5, 2008
Valley AirCare's (Harlingen, TX) American Eurocopter AS350B2 helicopter with a crew of three went down in the Laguna Madre shortly before 9 p.m. while en route to pick up a patient on South Padre Island, Texas. Pilot Robert Goss, flight nurse Raul Garcia, and flight paramedic Michael Sanchez died, and their bodies were recovered from the water. The investigation into the cause of the crash continues through the FAA and NTSB. Metro Aviation is the program vendor.
February 12, 2008
After an AeroCare Medical Transport (Tulsa, OK) team delivered an ambulatory patient and family to a facility for a heart transplant, the pilot was taxiing slowly for departure from St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS) after sunset. Black ice was encountered, and the Cessna 425 Conquest skidded off the taxi-way at a very slow speed. The pilot was in the process of shutting down both engines when the right propeller struck a taxi-way sign. No injuries resulted, and the aircraft was towed back to the FBO ramp and was out of service until repairs were made. There was no precipitation. Flight Concepts is the program vendor.
PII: S1067-991X(08)00053-9
doi:10.1016/j.amj.2008.03.006
