Life Flight - Non-injury incident

Date: 10/18/2008 2300 MT

Program: Life Flight
	St. Patrick Hospital
	500 W. Broadway
	Missoula, MT 59806

Type: Astar 350 B3
Tail #: N911MT
Operator/Vendor: Metro Aviation

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: No injuries reported. Patient on board. 

Description: 
	Life Flight was inbound to the Trauma Center with a patient on board
	from a scene call 120 nautical miles out.  The pilot suspected fuel
	indicator problems and was closely monitoring the fuel supply.  Seven
	minutes out from the hospital the "Fuel Low" light illuminated.  The
	pilot elected to make a precautionary landing as soon as possible. 
	Dispatch was notified and the landing was completed without incident. 
	The medical crew and patient completed the transport by ground
	ambulance.

Additional Info: 
	Our mechanic brought sufficient fuel to the helicopter to allow it to
	be flown the short distance to our hangar.  A broken wire and a faulty
	resistor were found.  This caused the fuel indicating system to show
	15 gallons more at the beginning of the flight than was actually on
	board.

Source: Larry Peterman, Chief Flight Nurse

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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 2007 ASTNA