Medical Chopper Crash

**SS427** · #1 07-29-2010, 03:52 PM

Hopefully this latest crash did not involve anyone you know Dave (Ngtflyr). Third one this month. Sad as they are doing all they can to help us out and this happens to them. We have an Air Evac LZ training coming up and a demo for our open house in September. Great group of people and ALWAYS willing to help.

Latest medical chopper crash in Arizona

Here is a photo of Annie being loaded into Air Evacs chopper by me, members of my crew and the Air Evac crew. Thanks for all you do!

Fly safe Dave!!!!

**Xplantdad** · #2 07-29-2010, 04:53 PM

Not the same company that Dave works for...still this happens way too often [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/frown.gif[/img]

**SS427** · #3 07-29-2010, 05:24 PM

Yes I know, he is with Air Evac a subsidary of PHI. Ours is Air Evac EMS, Inc.

Ngtflyr · #4 07-29-2010, 06:41 PM

I'm fine, flew last night. The crash yesterday in Tucson is a mystery at this point. The pilot was a former vietnam chinook driver, retired border patrol pilot and worked for Lifenet a subsidery of AMC for the last 7 years. The pilot on my opposite shift new him well, used to work with him, he was a experienced, safe pilot. Appears to be a catastrophic mechanical failer at this point.

The crash last week in Oklahoma is speculated to have been a door coming off in flight and going thru the tail rotor. The medic was unstrapped securing the door when the incident happened. He was thrown clear in the crash and survived somehow. The aircraft left a smoking hole.

Still I feel the most dangerous part of my day is the drive to and from work dodging all the inattentive and/or impaired drivers on the road.

**Salvatore** · #5 07-29-2010, 06:55 PM

I give you guys alot of credit for doing these missions. When we were waiting for our sons heart down at CHOP for 7.5 months in 1998 we would get nervous everytime we saw or heard a chopper flying in to land on the roof pad. You never know if its another trajedy or a life saving mission. ALL you guys/gals are heros to me. Thank you!

Ngtflyr · #6 07-29-2010, 11:53 PM

Looks like the Tucson aircraft just came out of maintenance. Almost a given it will turn out to be maintenance related, NTBS report will be a year or so down the road.

On a related note, Tues nite I flew a fellow who didn't use jack stands. He was working under a van, the jack collapsed for whatever reason. He ended up with a broken pelvis and internal injuries, a $20K or so bill for the flight and whatever the rest of the medical bills add up too. Plus he has a long road to recovery ahead of him. Almost everyone on this site ends up under a jacked up car, please take the extra time to put in those jackstands as an added precaution. Better safe than sorry. This job sure makes me take a second look at whatever I am doing. It's easy enough to get hurt without doing something stupid. Be careful out there, you don't want to ride with me. For some reason almost all of my passengers don't seem to enjoy the ride.

**Bill Pritchard** · #7 07-30-2010, 12:47 AM

Glad to hear you're OK Dave...I immediately thought of you when I heard the "breaking news" on the TV yesterday afternoon.

Speaking of the floor jack incident, I learned my lesson early in my adult life. I used to occasionally get under a car which was supported only by a raised floor jack. Then one day when I was jacking a car up to do an oil change, the car came crashing down when a weld broke on the floor jack and it failed. That was the last time I got under a car without stands supporting it!

**SS427** · #8 07-30-2010, 03:14 PM

"This job sure makes me take a second look at whatever I am doing."

The last 4 out of 5 fatal accidents I worked on were caused by cell phones and/or lap tops. I have completely changed my tune regarding driving and talking on the phone let alone texting.

Schonyenko2 · #9 07-30-2010, 07:53 PM

Rick, you guys have to make it more realistic. We never get anybody as lite as Annie. Seems they all weigh 350+. (big smile)

**SS427** · #10 08-02-2010, 05:31 PM

The MediVac flight nurse said their patient weight limit was around 350 pounds. I would LOVE to see them get a 350 lbd'r in there!!!! It was tight for Ann with what I thought was literally NO room left over. As far as getting a more realistic patient, Ann was the only volunteer as they really mess you up with makeup. All for a good cause.