PennSTAR Flight Team - Non-injury incident

Date: 12/12/06 2300 EST

Program: PennSTAR Flight Team
	3400 Spruce Street
	Phila, PA 19104
	(215)662-7430

Type: S-76
Operator/Vendor: Other Service

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: No injuries reported. Patient on board. 

Description: 
	At approximately 2300 hours, PennCOMM was notified via telephone by
	another flight program?s dispatch center that one of their aircraft
	was inbound with an interfacility patient to the University of
	Pennsylvania Medical Center helipad (12th floor, rooftop pad), with
	an approximate ETA of five (5) minutes. The inbound aircraft?s
	communication center was immediately informed that the helipad was
	occupied by a PennSTAR aircraft which had just completed a mission,
	and that the inbound aircraft would need to wait for the PennSTAR
	aircraft to depart before landing. The PennSTAR crew immediately
	proceeded to the aircraft and began preflight procedures. Perimeter
	helipad lighting and rotating beacons were operational however flood
	lighting on the pad was turned-off to preserve night vision for the
	departing aircraft crew.
	
	The flight nurse, who was standing fire-watch at the 2 O?clock
	position, noticed the inbound aircraft?s landing lights approaching
	over the city and assumed the aircraft would maintain a safe distance
	away. The PennSTAR pilot had completed #1 engine start-up, was
	beginning the engine start cycle on the 2nd engine and had all
	strobes and anti-collision lights illuminated. The flight nurse
	noticed the inbound aircraft approaching, and then crossing the plan
	of the helipad. The flight nurse attempted to signal the incomming
	aircraft first by waiving arms, then by shining a flashlight into the
	cockpit of the approaching aircraft. Simultaneously, the PennSTAR
	Communication Technicians attempted radio contact - without success ?
	with the aircraft on both the PennSTAR and Philadelphia aviation radio
	frequencies and by rapidly flashing the perimeter helipad lighting.
	The inbound aircraft was directly overhead of the PennSTAR aircraft
	when they initiated a go-around departure. Post incident mechanical
	inspection revealed no damage to the PennSTAR aircraft.
	
	
	

Additional Info: 
	A debriefing of this incident was incident was conducted with the
	aviation management of both services and several fundamental
	operational mandates were reinforced. The co-pilot of the inbound
	aircraft indicated that the reflective tape on the flight nurse?s
	helmet was the first indication of a problem and was what prompted
	the go-around. This incident reveals several operational
	considerations:
	?	The absolute necessity of establishing radio contact with the
	receiving facility. No radio contact was made to PennCOMM from the
	in-bound aircraft.
	?	The necessity of direct aircraft communications.
	?	The importance of visually confirming a clear pad and establishing
	visual references, especially at night, prior to landing.
	?	The importance of reflective markings on uniforms/helmets.
	?	The importance of having a crew-member outside the aircraft during
	start-up.
	
	The quick, decisive actions of the PennSTAR Flight Nurse and
	Communication Technicians were instrumental in averting a disaster.

Source: Bob Higgins, Program Director-PennSTAR Flight Team

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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