SkyLife - Non-injury incident

Date: 3/27/2010 1507 PDT

Program: SkyLife 
	5484 E. Perimeter Road
	Fresno, CA 93727

Type: 206 L3
Tail #: N712M
Operator/Vendor: Rogers Helicopters

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

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

Description: 
	Prior to departing from an airport rendezvous in our back up aircraft,
	a pre-take off check was performed and all parameters were in the
	green. Take off and climb were normal and cruise power was established
	in level flight. Ten minutes into flight, while making a power change,
	resistance was noted in the collective. The decision was made by the
	crew to divert to the airport. Landing was made without incident and
	the patient was ground transported to the hospital without adverse
	affects. The aircraft was grounded until inspection by maintenance
	where no mechanical problems were found. However, a small plastic
	bottle was located on the co-pilot's floor with indentations and was
	believed to have been lodged in between the flight controls prior to
	landing. Both sets of flight controls were inspected and a new cover
	was placed over the flight control access on the co-pilot's side.  The
	incident is being tracked through our SMS program.

Source: Lisa Epps, PD & Bil Poe, DO

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information with your program staff. If you have further questions, please
contact the CONCERN Coordinator, David Kearns at 800 525 3712 or email:
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