Shreveport, LA — January 11, 2012— Metro Aviation, Inc. delivered the first of three EC145’s to Sanford Health at the end of last week. On hand for delivery was Kerry Berg, Director of Operations, Thomas Kitterman, Director of Maintenance and Orlen Tschetter, Vice President of Facilities & Planning from the Sanford Health-Sioux Falls Region.

The aircraft is complete with a full EMS configuration, operational options, single pilot IFR and air conditioning. In addition, this aircraft is equipped with the internal 10 Liter LOX system. Metro Aviation, Inc. currently offers single and dual external gas as well as single external LOX systems.

Milton Geltz, Managing Director for Metro Aviation, Inc. stated, “Due to the concerns of the customer about the harsh winter environment, the request was made to place the LOX in the aft cabin cabinet.”

The NTSB final report has not yet been issued, but documents indicate the accident inquiry has been centered on a fractured drive pin. The June 2010 crash of the Bell 222 killed CareFlite's chief pilot, Guy del Giudice, and mechanic Stephen Durler. The updated full narrative is below:

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 2, 2010, at 1400 central daylight time, a Bell 222U, N515MK, registered to and operated by CareFlite, Grand Prairie, Texas, collided with the ground following an in-flight break-up near Midlothian, Texas. The post maintenance flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The airline transport pilot and mechanic were killed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight departed from Grand Prairie Municipal Airport (GPM) Grand Prairie, Texas, at 1352, about 8 minutes before the accident.

During interviews with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), several witnesses consistently reported seeing the tail boom, main rotor hub, main rotor blades, and other debris separate from the helicopter. Another witness heard a "loud crack" sound. The helicopter subsequently collided with the ground and exploded into flames.

Review of radar data confirmed N515MK departed GPM at 1352:03. The helicopter proceeded southbound until the last radar target was recorded at 1359:49. The last six radar hits recorded from 1359:26 to 1359:49 indicated an average altitude of 1,300 feet mean sea level (msl), at an average ground speed of 115 knots, and an average ground track of 178 degrees.

The NTSB has released the Probable Cause report for the September 25, 2009 accident that killed all 3 crew aboard a Carolina Life Care Eurocopter AS350B2. Killed in the crash were pilot Patrick Walters, flight nurse Diana Conner, and flight medic Randolph Claxton Dove

Below is the full NTSB narrative:

On September 25, 2009, about 2331 eastern daylight time, a Eurocopter AS350 B2, N417AE, lost control and impacted terrain near Georgetown County Airport (GGE), Georgetown, South Carolina. The certificated commercial pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic were fatally injured; the helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to GE Business Financial Services Incorporated and operated by Omniflight Helicopters Incorporated, doing business as Carolina Life Care, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) positioning flight. Night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed for the flight, which operated on a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. The flight originated from Charleston Air Force Base/International Airport (CHS), Charleston, South Carolina, about 2302 and was destined for Conway-Horry County Airport (HYW), Conway, South Carolina.

According to Omniflight, the helicopter departed from its base at HYW about 2023 and was destined for Georgetown Memorial Hospital to conduct an interfacility patient transfer to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, South Carolina, which is located about 90 nautical miles (nm) southwest of HYW.

The NTSB has released the Probable Cause report for the March 25, 2010 accident that killed all 3 crew aboard a Hospital Wing Eurocopter AS350B3. Killed in the crash were pilot Doug Phillips,flight nurse Misty Brogdon, and flight nurse Cindy Parker.

Below is the full NTSB narrative:

On March 25, 2010, about 0600 central daylight time (CDT), a Eurocopter AS350 B3, N855HW, impacted terrain near Brownsville, Tennessee. The certificated commercial pilot and two flight nurses were fatally injured; the helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Memphis Medical Center Air Ambulance Service, doing business as Hospital Wing, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Jackson-Madison County General Hospital Heliport (TN05), Jackson, Tennessee, about 0551 and was en route to Haywood County EMS Heliport (99TN), Brownsville, Tennessee.

According to satellite tracking and witness interviews, the helicopter initially departed its home base (99TN) about 0426 and arrived in Parsons, Tennessee, about 0450 to pick up a patient. The helicopter departed Parsons about 0517 and arrived at TN05 to drop off the patient about 0534. The helicopter subsequently departed TN05 about 0551, and the last satellite contact occurred near the accident site about 0600. Satellite-recorded data indicated that the helicopter flew about 1,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) during the last flight segment until the last contact, when the helicopter’s altitude indicated 752 feet msl (about 350 feet above ground level [agl]) and 105 miles per hour (mph).

From the NTSB: On December 13, 2011, about 1620 mountain standard time, a Bell 407, N8067Z, was maneuvering at a low altitude and airspeed near the residence of some of the passengers when it descended into an open field about 12 miles west-northwest of the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport, Rock Springs, Wyoming. The helicopter impacted the ground hard and was substantially damaged. The helicopter’s landing gear skids and lower cabin structure were deformed, and the tail boom was severed. Guardian Flight, South Jordan, Utah, owned and operated the helicopter. The pilot and four passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight began from Rock Springs about 1600.

The passengers reported that the pilot, who was an employee of Guardian Flight, immediately departed the scene. The pilot has not reported the accident to the National Transportation Safety Board. Guardian Flight management personnel reported that the pilot was not authorized to fly the helicopter, and he was employed as their Rock Springs helicopter mechanic. Law enforcement authorities reported they apprehended the pilot in another state. Federal Aviation Administration personnel reported that the pilot was issued a student pilot certificate in 1988, and they have no record of him holding any additional pilot certificate. He does hold a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings and inspection authorization.

An acquaintance of the accident pilot reported that he observed the pilot flying N8067Z on several previous occasions for personal reasons. Passengers were carried during these “joy rides.”

Has anyone watched the Coast Guard Alaska show on the Weather Channel? Finally had a chance on this lazy New Year's Day to watch a few. AlecBuck.com has on occasion posted photos of Coast Guard helicopters, but our main focus has always been on civilian EMS operations. After watching a couple of these shows and seeing the awesome work these units do, we have decided that we will expand our Media Gallery to include military operations. If you are a member of a military flight crew, we love to post photos of your helicopters. To submit, all you need to do is click on the 'Submit Photos" link at the top of the page. Thanks - and Happy New Year from the Buck family!

On Tuesday morning, the pilot of Air Evac LifeTeam 81 made a precautionary landing at a Columbiana church. AEL 81, based in East Liverpool, was returning to base after taking a driver of a crashed propane tanker in Lisbon to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. During the flight visibilty worsened and the pilot made an emergency landing on a soccer field next to the church.

Due to earlier rainfall, the Bell 206 helicopter actually started to sink into the ground. From inside the church, Pastor Chuck Hamilton heard the helicopter landing. At the Pastor's suggestion, the pilot repositioned the helicopter to the church's parking lot and then the Pastor, church janitor, and the crew pushed it under the church carport..

On Wednesday the crew returned and flew the helicopter back to East Liverpool.

Survival 2 recently started flight operations from Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, MO. Utilizing a 1995 Bell 206-L4, Survival 2 entered service in November. Images have just been uploaded to the Media Gallery. Thanks to pilot Jeff Martin for the photos and program update.