Baptist LifeFlight - Non-injury incident

Date: 12/01/07 1506 CST

Program: Baptist LifeFlight
	1000 West Moreno Street
	Pensacola, Fl 32501

Type: AS 350 B2
Tail #: N954AE
Operator/Vendor: PHI

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, Flight Nurse, Flight Medic. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	On 12/1/08 at 1506 LifeFlight 3 based in Evergreen Alabama was enroute
	to pick up a patient for an inter-hospital transport when they
	experienced a large bird strike. The aircraft was at approximately
	1600 ft AGL traveling at 118 knots. Weather was clear. The pilot saw
	the bird just prior to impact and executed a left turn to try to avoid
	impact. The bird struck the right front windshield area in front of
	the pilot creating a hole approximately 12? X 13?. The bird appeared
	to be a large buzzard. The pilot and crew were wearing helmets and
	nomex flight suits. The pilot immediately identified a suitable LZ
	near a house in the predominantly rural area and executed a
	precautionary landing without incident. The pilot notified the
	LifeFlight communications center of the strike and their intent to
	land. The aircraft is satellite tracked at the LifeFlight
	communications center and at PHI?s EOC. The pilot was evaluated and
	released at the local ER.  The Flight Nurse and Medic were not
	injured. There was no patient on board. The aircraft an AS350 B2 is
	out of service pending the replacement of the windshield. Operations
	at the base were resumed utilizing a back up aircraft on 12/2.

Source: Kevin Stanhope RN, EMT-P, CMTE, Program Director

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