For more information on the Air Evac Lifeteam accident, please visit FlightWeb. They always do a great job reporting the latest news on accidents. While there, please remember to sign the Condolence Book for Air Evac Lifeteam.

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 62AE Make/Model: B206 Description: BELL 206B HELICOPTER
Date: 08/31/2010 Time: 0915

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
City: CLINTON State: AR Country: US

DESCRIPTION
N62AE AIR EVAC EMS INC., BELL 206L-1 ROTORCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN
CIRCUMSTANCES, THE THREE PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, 5 MILES
FROM CLINTON, AR

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 3
# Crew: 3 Fat: 3 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: METAR KCCA 31080855Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW016 BKN049 OVC060 25/23 A3009

Air Evac Lifeteam 30, based in Vilonia, Arkansas, crashed at 4:30 this morning while enroute to a MVA in Crabtree. The aircraft went down near the community of Scotland, 80 miles north of Little Rock. The crew of three were all killed; pilot Ken Robertson, flight paramedic Gayla Gregory, and flight nurse Kenneth Meyer, Jr. The aircraft has been reported to be a NVG capable Bell 206.

It has been a long time since I've added any photos of myself to the site. Check out the "Summer 2010" album to see what I have been up to.

NTSB Identification: WPR10FA371
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, July 28, 2010 in Tucson, AZ
Aircraft: AMERICAN EUROCOPTER LLC AS350B3, registration: N509AM
Injuries: 3 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On July 28, 2010, at 1342 mountain standard time, an American Eurocopter AS350B3, N509AM, rapidly descended and collided with terrain in an urban area of Tucson, Arizona. The helicopter was operated by Air Methods Corporation, as LifeNet 12, on a repositioning flight, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and two medical flight crew were killed. The helicopter was substantially damaged, and consumed by a post impact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Marana Regional Airport, Tucson, at 1332.

Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying steadily in a southeast direction when it started to descend rapidly and enter a left-hand turn. Witnesses also stated that the helicopter made some unusual ‘whump, whump’ sounds, and rapid intermittent popping sounds, which was followed by unusual quietness as the helicopter descended. As the helicopter turned and got closer to the ground its flight trajectory became increasingly vertical. It impacted the ground in a level attitude and burst into flames.

Initial radar data indicated that the helicopter was on a steady southeast course, at 131 knots ground speed, and 900 feet above ground level (agl). The last 8 seconds of radar data indicated that the helicopter descended 600 feet. The last radar return was at 1341:32, approximately 140 feet agl, and 0.25 miles from the accident site. The pilot did not transmit a radio distress call.

Air Methods has released the names of the crew killed in yesterday's accident.
Brenda E. French, Paramedic, 28, Safford, AZ
Parker W. Summons, Nurse, 41, Tucson, AZ
Alexander (Alex) B. Kelley, Pilot, 61, Tucson, AZ

For photos of the crew, please visit KVOA.com.
KGUN 9 has a photo of the helicopter just before impact.

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 509AM Make/Model: AS50 Description: AS-350/550 ECUREUIL, ASTAR, SUPERSTAR, F
Date: 07/28/2010 Time: 2142

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
City: TUCSON State: AZ Country: US

DESCRIPTION
N509AM LIFENET 12 EUROCOPTER AS350B3 CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES,
THE THREE PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, NEAR TUCSON, AZ

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 3
# Crew: 3 Fat: 3 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: KTUS 2115Z 17014G18KT 10SM VCTS SCT090 34/18 A2999

OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER

FAA FSDO: SCOTTSDALE, AZ (WP07) Entry date: 07/29/2010

A LifeNet Arizona (LifeNet 12) helicopter, based in Douglas, Arizona, crashed this afternoon in Tucson killing the three person crew. Early reports indicate the helicopter's rotors stopped working and the aircraft plummeted to the ground. The Eurocopter AS350 was enroute to Douglas from University Medical Center in Marana. There was no patient onboard. Please visit the following links for more information:

- KVOA.com (photos and video of accident site)
- KOLD News 13 (photos)