Flight For Life Colorado - Non-injury incident

Date: 5-16-2009 2205 MDT

Program: Flight For Life Colorado
	4231 W. 16th Ave.
	Denver, CO 80204

Type: AS 350 B3
Tail #: N394LG
Operator/Vendor: Air Methods

Weather: Night

Team: Pilot, Flight Nurse, Flight Paramedic. No injuries reported. Patient on board. 

Description: 
	While flying a patient from Lamar to Denver, Colorado, the helicopter
	encountered ducks near the town of Simla. One duck struck the nose of
	the aircraft just above the pilot side chin bubble, bending the
	plexiglass back sufficiently to enter the cockpit. Debris trailed back
	through the cabin to the back wall. A second duck struck the left side
	windscreen and traveled aft along the side of the helicopter, but did
	not penetrate into the cabin.
	
	The pilot landed in a field west of Simla, just north of Highway 24.
	Another Flight For Life Colorado helicopter was activated for Simla.
	The transport was completed with no deleterious effect.
	
	All three crew members were wearing helmets with their visors down.
	There were no injuries to the crew or the patient from duck debris.
	The pilot was able to land the aircraft quickly after the impact,
	aided by NVG's. The Comm Center staff responded to the initial reports
	of the duck strike and emergency landing by activating the PAIP and
	insuring rapid assistance to the crew.
	

Additional Info: 
	A ferry permit was obtained on Monday, May 18th, and the aircraft was
	flown from Simla to Air Methods in Englewood, Colorado. Repairs were
	effected quickly and the aircraft returned to service on Thursday, May
	21. 
	
	

Source: Kathleen Mayer, Program Director

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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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