JeffSTAT - Non-injury incident

Date: 3/17/2009 1535 DST

Program: JeffSTAT
	Philadelphia, PA

Type: EC135
Tail #: N137LN
Operator/Vendor: Air Methods

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	At 1535 JeffSTAT 1 departed from its base located along the Delaware
	River at Sterling Aviation for an inter-facility transport when the
	crew saw a large seagull approaching the helicopter. Before they could
	alert the pilot, the bird flew into the main rotors.  The Pilot was
	able to maintain full control of the aircraft and returned to the
	helipad without incident.   The aircraft was taken out of service and
	the mechanic called in.  The bird was located on the adjacent deck
	area of the helipad.  Multiple feathers and blood spatters were
	identified on the aircraft and, once removed, revealed no damage. The
	aircraft was cleared and returned to service 2 hours later.

Source: Duane Spencer, 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.

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