Northwest MedStar - Non-injury incident

Date: 3/3/2006 1903 PST

Program: Northwest MedStar
	PO Box 11005
	Spokane, WA 99211-1005
	

Type: EC-135 P1
Tail #: N311MS
Operator/Vendor: Metro Aviation, Inc

Weather: Partial overcast.  Not a factor

Team: Pilot, flight nurse, flight respiratory therapist. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	Shortly after aircraft refueling and on the return leg to home base,
	the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing due to an ?unusual?
	engine noise.  The pilot landed the aircraft in an open area, west of
	a paved road without incident.  A maintenance team was dispatched to
	the site and performed a maintenance check and found no discernible
	abnormalities.  
	
	The pilot and crew subsequently lifted from the site and again heard
	the ?unusual? engine sound.  The pilot and crew elected to return to
	the main operating base, making an uneventful landing.  During a
	subsequent ground maintenance check, the engine ?chip? light
	illuminated, necessitating the engine to be removed and replaced. 

Source: Steve Harris, Program Operations Manager