Warbelow's Air Ambulance - Non-injury incident

Date: April 25, 2009 14:30 ADT

Program: Warbelow's Air Ambulance
	PO Box 60649
	Fairbanks, AK 99706

Type: Piper Cheyenne XLII
Tail #: N767DM
Operator/Vendor: Warbelow's Air Ventures, Inc.

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

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

Description: 
	While completing the loading process for a critical patient, the
	flight nurse had difficulty securely latching the aircraft door.  The
	paramedic requested assistance with a crucial patient care procedure
	which diverted the flight nurse's attention from completing the door
	closure process.  During the course of rendering patient care, the
	partially-latched door was forgotten and the crew gave the pilot the
	okay to start engines, taxi, and takeoff.  As the pilot advanced the
	throttle for takeoff, the partially-secured door came unlatched and
	opened.  The pilot immediately cut power to the engines and came to a
	stop on the runway.  The flight paramedic properly secured the door
	and there was sufficient runway length for the pilot to complete
	takeoff from the position where he stopped on the runway.  The
	incident caused no injury and did not detrimentally impact patient
	care.

Source: Mike Branum, Operations Manager

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