North Mississippi Air - Fatal accident

DATE	
	1/5/2005 2303  CST

PROGRAM	
	North Mississippi Air

VENDOR	
	Air Methods

ADDRESS	
	North Mississippi Med Ctr
	830 S. Gloster St.
	Tupelo, MS  38801

WEATHER	
	Unknown

AIRCRAFT_TYPE	
	AS350  A-Star   

TAIL#	
	N350RM

INJURIES	
	James Archer, Pilot - fatal
	

DESCRIPTION	
	The helicopter had been dispatched to respond to an emergency call at
	8:05pm following a one vehicle accident.  NMMC's helicopter with a
	pilot and two flight crew members lifted off at 8:22pm and landed at
	the scene at 8:37pm.  At 8:45 pm a problem was reported with the chin
	bubble on the front of the aircraft.  The problem was not one that
	would compromise the structural or mechanical performance of the
	helicopter but in accordance with FAA regulations, a mechanic was
	dispatched to the accident scene just after 9:00pm to repair the
	helicopter.  The two flight crew members and accident victim were
	transported by ambulance to NMMC in Tupelo.  A temporary repair was
	made on the front of the aircraft and the helicopter lifted off to
	return to Tupelo at 11:03pm.  The helicopter went down during the
	return flight.  There was no communication with the pilot after lift
	off.

ADDITIONAL INFO	
	The missing aircraft protocol was initiated after repeated radio calls
	from the communication center went unanswered.  After an extensive
	ground search conducted by local rescuers, the aircraft was located
	in a wooded area at 0530 hours.  The FAA ws notified of the incident.
	The NTSB is investigating the crash scene.  The NMMC's helicopter had
	made more than 7,300 flights in 18 years without an accident.

SOURCE	
	Bill Watson, RN, CFRN, REMTP

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.