Life Star - Non-injury incident

DATE	
	October 14, 2004 1100 EST

PROGRAM	
	Life Star

VENDOR	
	Air Methods

ADDRESS	
	Hartford, CT

WEATHER	
	N/A

AIRCRAFT_TYPE	
	BK-117  A-4

TAIL#	
	137HH

TEAM	
	Aviation Maintenance. No injuries reported. No patient. 

DESCRIPTION	
	During routine maintenance, the mechanic noted a crack in the forward
	left hand tail boom splice. The aircraft was grounded and the cracked
	splice was removed.  The regular inspection that would have detected
	this defect was not due for approximately 65 hours.  The aircraft was
	repaired with a new left hand tail boom splice supplied by AEC.  When
	American Eurocopter was contacted, it was reported that several of
	these types of cracks have been found in older BK117's. American
	Eurocopter supplied a canned repair for this problem.  Aircraft was
	returned to service.

SOURCE	
	John Fisher, RN, Chief Flight Nurse

VIA	
	David Kearns, CONCERN Coordinator
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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,
David Kearns at 800 525 3712 or email: coordinator@concern-network.org.