VANDERBILT LIFEFLIGHT - Non-injury incident

DATE		8/24/03 dusk edt

PROGRAM		VANDERBILT LIFEFLIGHT

VENDOR		AIR METHODS

ADDRESS
		VANDERBILT MEDICAL CENTER
SKYPORT HELIPAD-VUH
NASHVILLE, TN 37232

WEATHER		Clear. Not a factor

AIRCRAFT_TYPE	BK 117 B1

TAIL#		N911VU

TEAM		PILOT, 2 NURSES. No injuries reported. Patient on
board. 

DESCRIPTION	During an interfacility transport of a pediatric
		patient to Venderbilt Medical Center the flight
		crew and patient heard a loud noise followed by
		several seconds of aircraft shudder.  The pilot
		maintained control of the aircraft at all times
		and followed program policy by requesting a
		precautionary landing at the nearest airport,
		which was Nashville International Airport.  The
		medical crew completed the patient transport by
		ground ambulance without further incident.

ADDITIONAL INFO	Initial suspicion was thought to be related to a
		bird strike.  Further investigation has indicated
		the helicopter experienced a compressor stall
		after passing through the vortices of a 757
		jetliner on final approach to Nashville
		International Airport.  A back-up helicopter was
		put into service that night.  Maintenance crews
		have found no indication of engine problems.  The
		aircraft has been inspected, flight tested and
		returned to service.

SOURCE		Wilson Matthews, Asst. Dir., Vanderbilt LifeFlight

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.