Boston Medflight - Non-injury incident

Date: 11/29/2007 00:38 EST

Program: Boston Medflight
	Hangar 1727, Robins Street, Hanscom AFB, Robins Street, Bedford, Mass.
	01730

Type: BK117 C-1
Tail #: N273NE
Operator/Vendor: Era MED, LLC

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, CCT Nurse, CCT Paramedic. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	The RW crew had just completed patient transport to consortium
	tertiary care center and were preparing for departure from rooftop
	helipad. Aircraft had not been started, when crew heard audible
	helipad horn sounding. PIC advised crew to climb into aircraft and
	secure doors. At that time, two high pressure water cannons activated
	and began deluging aircraft with water.The left side co-pilots and
	left rear sliding doors were damaged. Hospital security and
	engineering department personnel were able to shut system off after
	several minutes. Local FD, EMS, regulatory agencies and Part 135
	vendor notified. The crew involved was evaluated in the hospital
	emergency department and fortunately had no injuries except for being
	extremely wet.

Additional Info: 
	Immediate Actions:
	
	1. Aircraft was taken OOS for inspection by local Era MED, LLC
	maintenance staff. Subsequent to local review the aircraft was ferried
	by ground to Era MED, LLC maintenance facility for full inspection and
	repairs.
	2. Hospital rooftop helipad was taken OOS until full evaluation and
	repairs by engineering staff and equipment vendor. Two deluge valves,
	solenoid control valves and exterior weather tight electrical control
	panel was replaced. The helipad was placed back into service after
	inspection by the Boston F.D.
	3. All North East Air Alliance (NEAA) airmedical transport programs
	in MA, ME, NH, CT and NY were notified of occurence and to follow-up
	with any local facilities with similar fire supression systems. Local
	Boston Hospitals were also advised to check their systems for proper
	operation.

Source: Andrew Farkas RN EMT-P, Chief Operations Manager

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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 2007 ASTNA