Bayflight - Non-injury incident

DATE		8/26/02 2027 edt

PROGRAM		Bayflight

VENDOR		Rocky Mountain Helicopters

ADDRESS
		701 6th St. S
		St. Petersburg, FL 33701

WEATHER		Clear. Not a factor

AIRCRAFT_TYPE	BK 117 A4

TAIL#		N528SF

TEAM		Pilot, 2 FN's, RT. No injuries reported. Patient 
		on board.  

DESCRIPTION	Aircraft was transporting a NICU patient.  41 
		minutes into transport, crew heard a loud bang 
		followed by a whine.  Medical Crew could see fire 
		out the right side and rear of the aircraft.  
		Aircraft instruments indicated #2 engine fire.  
		Aircraft yawed from side to side and both engine's 
		instruments were erratic.  Pilot initiated 
		emergency procedures including activating fire 
		suppression for engine #2 and autorotation to a 
		highway.  Pilot could see glow out of right side 
		of aircraft.  Aircraft landed safely on highway 
		after avoiding one car.  Second aircraft was 
		dispatched to scene.  Patient and medical crew 
		proceeded to receiving hospital in second 
		aircraft. 

ADDITIONAL INFO	Upon landing and exiting aircraft, pilot found #2 
		engine on fire despite aircraft fire suppression.  
		Pilot exhausted all fire extinguishers on the 
		aircraft as well as one from a passing motorist.  
		Fire was eventually extinguished by Fire 
		Department.  Engine and surrounding structures 
		were substantially damaged.  Only damage to 
		aircraft was from fire, none was incurred on 
		landing. 

SOURCE		Ken Grimes, Bayflight

VIA		Roseanne Krantz, CONCERN

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The CONCERN network shares verified information to alert medical
transport programs when an accident / incident has occurred.
Please share the above information with your program staff. If
you have further questions, please contact the CONCERN Coordinator,
Roseann Krantz @ 1-800-75-SHOCK or rjkrantz@aol.com.