North Colorado Med Evac 2 - Non-injury incident

Date: 11/9/09 17:50 

Program: North Colorado Med Evac 2

Type: Bell 407
Tail #: N912GX
Operator/Vendor: Med-Trans Corp

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: No injuries reported. Patient on board. 

Description: 
	North Colorado Med Evac 2 was on a patient transport from Yuma, CO, en
	route to Denver, CO.   At approximately 1750 hours, the aircraft was
	westbound at approximately 1200 feet AGL when the medical crew heard
	an unusual whining noise emanating from the engine area and
	immediately notified the pilot.  The pilot, in consultation with the
	medical crew, made a decision to make a Precautionary Landing (PL) and
	initiated a descent.  After initial reduction of the collective, the
	engine chip light illuminated and the crew selected an appropriate PL
	site in a field adjacent to a road.  
	
	The pilot executed a descending 90 degree turn into the wind and set
	up for a final approach into the selected landing area.  During the
	descent, the pilot instructed the medical crewmembers to activate the
	ISAT emergency switch on the satellite phone and to contact Dispatch
	and advise them of the situation.  
	
	While on short final, at approximately 10 feet above the intended
	landing point, the crew saw a flash and the engine failed.  The engine
	failure was accompanied by a yaw and the associated aircraft
	warning/segment lights and audio alarms.  The pilot executed an
	autorotation to the intended landing point with no damage to the
	aircraft or injury to the patient or medical crewmembers.  
	
	The patient was transported by another helicopter service and the
	pilot and medical crewmembers were transported by aircraft back to
	their home base.  The FAA and NTSB were notified.  The Denver Accident
	Investigation Supervisor conducted an on-site investigation and
	released the undamaged aircraft.  The aircraft was subsequently
	recovered to an MTC facility and is being evaluated in conjunction
	with the OEM regarding the cause of the engine failure.
	
	The immediate and decisive action on the part of the pilot and medical
	crewmembers, the application of sound CRM practices/principles, and
	application of hands-on emergency procedures training played an
	integral role in the safe outcome of this occurrence.
	

Additional Info: 
	Additional information will be provided pending the results of an
	internal investigation.

Source: Larry Bugg, VP Flight Operations & Safety ? Med-Trans Corp.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The CONCERN network shares verified information to alert medical transport
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.

Copyright 2007 ASTNA