LifeNet of New York - Non-injury incident

Date: 8/1/2008 21:59 EST

Program: LifeNet of New York

Type: EC135

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, Pilot (orientation), Flight Nurse, and Flight Paramedic. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	After responding to a night scene request, the Flight Team identified
	the location of the scene by the lights coming from the emergency
	response vehicles that ran approximately 3/4 mile along the road in
	the vicinity of the scene.  Upon arrival, the Flight Team had
	difficulty identifying the exact location of the LZ, due to it not
	being set up yet.  After orbiting the scene for approximately ten
	minutes and communicating the location and description of the LZ with
	the ground personnel, the LZ was identified.  The LZ was marked with
	flashlights and described as an open field (horse pasture) surrounded
	by trees with wires running east to west along the main road and wires
	over a fence that ran along a drive coming off of the main road. 
	During the high reconnaisance of the LZ, the main road and drive were
	identified but the wires could not be seen.  With the Crew briefed,
	the Pilot began the approach into the LZ. As the aircraft approached
	the LZ, the Pilot identified the wires along the road and along the
	drive.  The Flight Nurse, who was sitting behind the Pilot continued
	to search for the wires, remembering that one of the sets were
	described as being over a fence.  When the Flight Nurse identified a
	fence that ran through the corner of the field that was under the
	approach path of the aircraft, he began to look for the wires and
	identified a set of wires directly under the rotor system of the
	aircraft.  The Flight Nurse immediately announced "Stop" three times,
	at which time the Pilot stopped his decent.  The Flight Nurse then
	announced the wires under the rotor system, the Pilot sitting in the
	Co Pilot seat verified that the wires were under the tail boom of the
	aircraft, then the Pilot In Command cleared the wires and continued
	the approach into the LZ without incident.  After landing, there was a
	discussion between the Pilot In Command and the Pilot who was
	conducting the local area orientation if any limitations were exceeded
	during the approach.  Maintenance was then notified and the patient
	was taken to the hospital by ground.  Maintenance arrived, inspected
	the aircraft, no damage was found, and the aircraft was then returned
	to duty.  A Post Flight Debrief was conducted when the Medical Crew
	and Pilot returned to Base and it was discovered that the Flight Nurse
	had identified an additional set of wires that were not found by the
	Fire Department during the set up of the LZ.  It was also discovered
	that the Fire Department had never walked the LZ prior to setting it
	up, they had conducted their reconnasaince from the main road with
	flash lights.  The results of this debrief found that there was an
	excellent use of positive communication and AMRM among the Flight
	Team, specifically the Flight Nurse which prevented a possible
	catastrophic event.  It was also determined that the Fire Department
	that set up the LZ required additional training or refresher training
	on setting up LZ's, which was set up the following week.

Source: Ron Wilson, Program Aviation Manager

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