Carilion Clinic Life-Guard - Non-injury incident

Date: 10/20/09  

Program: Carilion Clinic Life-Guard
	Roanoke, VA

Type: EC 145
Tail #: N145CL
Operator/Vendor: Air Methods Corporation

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, Flight Nurse, Flight Paramedic. No injuries reported. No patient. 

Description: 
	While en route to pick up a patient for an interfacility transfer, at
	approximately 4800 MSL, the flight nurse noted lights approximately
	1/4 mile away and 4000 MSL, heading towards the aircraft at the 3
	o'clock position. The flight nurse was under night vision goggles at
	the time, in the fore facing seat behind the pilot. The nurse advised
	the pilot of his observation as he looked under the goggles to
	confirm. With visualization of the military jet, the Life-Guard pilot
	immediately turned the white side strobes on, subsequently noting the
	other aircraft to bank and climb. A second military jet was noted at
	that time, but was considered to be of no issue. 
	
	The team discussed the incident while en route to the sending facility
	and agreed to continue. A formal debriefing with the pilot, flight
	nurse, and flight medic was held after transport completion. The team
	again debriefed at the end of the shift, with the Program Director and
	Program Safety Officer. Several ATC's / military base ops and flight
	service stations were subsequently contacted to attempt to discuss the
	incident, but no one could confirm military aircraft presence in that
	area. 
	

Additional Info: 
	The incident occurred in the Pearisburg, VA area. 
	
	According to the flight nurse, the lights may not have been observed
	and confirmed as an aircraft without NVG's. Similar lights are
	frequently observed with ground traffic on the mountains. This base
	implemented NVG's in August 09. It was noted that because NVG's can
	hinder some visual cues and distance estimations, the flight nurse was
	appropriate to quickly confirm the traffic unaided as well.
	
	The incident occurred in a non-radar environment and therefore the
	Traffic Information System on the aircraft did not reveal any traffic.
	
	
	This incident occurred in an area where military IR / VR routes are
	documented. Military aircraft have been noted in this area before,
	most recently about 1 week ago, distance and separation a non-issue. 
	
	Lessons Learned:
	
	*When used appropriately, NVG's are effective in identifying
	obstacles, especially in mountainous terrain. 
	
	*The flight crew members' "Eyes Out of Cockpit" allows quick
	identification of the incoming traffic.
	
	*The pilot's quick decision and action to turn on the side white
	strobes can provide the other aircraft immediate visualization and
	subsequent evasive action to avoid a collision (note that these side
	white lights are not used as a standard during night ops because of
	the potential of strobes causing vertigo and interference with NVGs).
	
	
	*Standardized call outs ("traffic 3 o'clock low") provides the
	essential information in the quickest means possible, optimizing
	reaction time. 
	

Source: Susan Smith, Program Director, Carilion Clinic Life-Guard

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