Northwest MedStar - Non-injury incident

Date: 9/3/2006   1440 hrs  PST

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

Type: BO-105
Tail #: N314MS
Operator/Vendor: Metro Aviation, Inc.

Weather: Partial Cloudiness.  Not a factor

Team: Pilot, flight nurse, and flight respiratory therapist. No injuries reported. Patient on board. 

Description: 
	Responding to a rural scene call, the initial landing zone (LZ)
	selection created an unacceptable dust hazard.  The PIC requested the
	LZ be prepped by wetting down the LZ but the delay in accomplishing
	the requested wet down was determined to be unacceptable due to time
	on station constraints.  The PIC sighted an open area adjacent to an
	old, unused logging road and radioed the EMS ground contact of his
	intent to land at the alternate site.  The PIC performed a high
	reconnaissance and an initiated an approach to a high hover. A
	low-level reconnaissance was performed by the medical crew who
	provided hazard information to the PIC during the approach.  The PIC
	landed the helicopter and felt what seemed to be the ground slope
	contacting the rear part of the skids.  The PIC elected to relocate a
	few feet forward to a more level surface, which was populated with
	tall brush and grass.  Post landing at the LZ failed to denote
	anything out of the ordinary.  The patient was subsequently loaded
	and transported to the nearest hospital without incident.  Post
	flight at the hospital revealed a puncture to the left rear bottom of
	the aircraft fuselage, just aft of the rear cross tube.  Maintenance
	was contacted, who assessed the damage and the aircraft flown back to
	base.

Source: Steve Harris, Program Operations Manager

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

Copyright 2006 ASTNA