Geisinger Life Flight - Non-injury incident

Date: 3/27/09 1200hrs 

Program: Geisinger Life Flight
	100 Academy Ave
	Danville, PA 17822-4050

Type: EC145
Tail #: N482LF
Operator/Vendor: Era Med

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, Flight nurse, Flight paramedic. No injuries reported. Patient on board. 

Description: 
	Life Flight II, Geisinger's St College based aircraft responded to
	Bucktail Medical Center in Renovo, PA for an interfacilty transport.
	 With the patient and med crew on board in Renovo, the pilot
	attempted to start engine #1. A change in the voltage was noted with
	no spooling up of the engine.  The start was aborted.  After a careful
	review of the checkist the pilot attempted to start engine again. 
	With this attempt a heavy smoke condition was noted outside the
	aircraft.  The start was aborted and the crew immediately exited the
	aircraft, emergently egressing the patient.  After all occupants were
	out of the aircraft, the pilot with a fire estinguisher in hand,
	opened the engine cowling to find the source of the smoke to be coming
	from the starter/generator which was subsiding. 
	The patient was transported by another Life Flight aircraft and
	maintenance was dispatched.  It was determined the starter/generator
	failed and was replaced. the aircraft returned to service later the
	same day. 

Source: Jerry Splitt, Program Coordinator

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