Survival Flight - Non-injury incident

Date: 9/18/09 2030 EST

Program: Survival Flight 
	UMHS - Survival Flight
	B1 352 TC - 5307
	1500 East Medical Center Drive
	Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
	

Type: B430
Tail #: N431UM
Operator/Vendor: Air Methods Corp.

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

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

Description: 
	While heading North at 3000' msl, about 15 miles from destination
	airport, airplane traffic was observed while using NVG's. The traffic
	appeared to move from left to right about 10 or more miles in front
	and then stopped moving. Then, it appeared to slowly get bigger, but
	didn't appear to be a threat. The flight nurse removed her goggles and
	verified the traffic was, in fact, closing rapidly.  An evasive
	maneuver was initiated to avoid a collision, passing within 500' from
	the traffic. The traffic had no transponder and a very weak radio.  
	All helicopter lighting systems were operational and in use, but the
	airplane traffic did not see the helicopter until passed. 

Additional Info: 
	Use of NVG's to verify distance can sometimes be hindering. Unaided
	visual cues can add accuracy. Also, too much dependence on automation,
	like Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS), can give the flight
	crew a false sense of security. 

Source: Denise Landis, Program 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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