SLU HOSPITAL HELICOPTER CRASH PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION RELEASED BY NTSB

MARCH 12, 2015

NTSB Identification: CEN15FA164 

14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation 

Accident occurred Friday, March 06, 2015 in St Louis, MO 

Aircraft: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS EC 130 B4, registration: N356AM 

Injuries: 1 Fatal. 

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On March 6, 2015, at 2310 central standard time, an Airbus Helicopters (Eurocopter) EC-130-B4, N356AM, operated by Air Methods (doing business as ARCH), struck the edge of a hospital building and impacted its parking lot during a visual approach to the St Louis University Hospital elevated rooftop helipad (MO55), St Louis, Missouri. 

During the approach, the helicopter experienced a loss of directional control and entered an uncontrolled descent. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91 as an air medical positioning flight that was operating on a company flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. 

The flight was returning to MO55 after it had been refueled at the operator’s base in St. Louis, Missouri.

The flight’s first approach and landing at MO55 was to drop off a medic, nurse, and a patient. During the approach, the pilot reported to the flight nurse and medic that winds were gusting to 25 knots. 

The flight nurse stated that helicopter was yawing quite a bit and there was a noticeable roll side to side during landing. The helicopter landed without incident during the first approach and landing. The flight then departed to obtain fuel at the operator’s base and then departed to return to MO55, to pick up the medic and flight nurse.

The accident occurred during the return’s approach for landing at MO55.

Examination of the wreckage confirmed flight control continuity of the tail rotor drive system and there were indications consistent with engine power on the turbine wheel output shaft.

FIRE ON BOARD FISH PROCESSING VESSEL JUNO

Executive Summary In the early morning hours on Saturday, December 28, 2013, the 138-foot-long fish processing vessel Juno caught fire while moored at its pier in Westport, Washington. Shoreside firefighters extinguished the blaze, which caused extensive damage. The master received minor injuries, and no pollution was reported as a result of the fire. Probable Cause The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause of the fire on the fish processing vessel Juno was a space heater that experienced an electrical fault (short circuit). Contributing to the extent of the fire’s damage was the improper stowage of flammable materials near the heater. Also contributing was the vessel’s lack of structural fire protection and use of combustible materials in interior finishes.

NTSB TO HOLD FORUM ON THE DANGERS OF RAILROAD TRESPASSING. TRACKS ARE A PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THEY CAN BE A DEADLY PLACE.

MARCH 11, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public forum March 24-25 on the dangers of trespassing on the railroad right-of-way. While railroad tracks have long held a cultural resonance with Americans, featured in motion pictures, TV shows, music videos and photography, they are private property.  And they can be a deadly place. In 2013, 476 people were killed and 432 were injured in trespassing accidents, according to preliminary data from the Federal Railroad Administration. The forum, Trains and Trespassing: Ending Tragic Encounters, will be chaired by NTSB Board Member Robert L. Sumwalt. It will feature speakers who have been seriously injured by trains; those whose communities have been affected; and railroad employee assistance program employees whose train crews have struck people on railroad property. The forum will draw on the expertise of railroads, regulators, and researchers, among others, to review the diversity of trespassing accidents and incidents and look at current and future prevention strategies. The forum will be held at the NTSB's Board Room and Conference Center, located at 429 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. However, on March 25, the forum will include a tour of Norfolk Southern’s safety train at Union Station. More information about the forum can be found here: http://www.ntsb.gov/trespassing The public can view the forum in person or by live webcast on the NTSB's website. As soon as they are available, an agenda and webcast details will be posted.

EUFAULA, OKLAHOMA DEADLY EAGLEMED CRASH NOT A WAKE-UP CALL, AS THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CRASHES OVER THE YEARS

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015
EUFAULA, OKLAHOMA
NTSB investigators said initial reports show the weather likely played a part in the crashing of an EagleMed helicopter that killed a pilot.
A lawyer, who has represented a victim in a previous EagleMed crash, said Thursday night's crash is no wake up call for the air ambulance industry.
There have been so many fatalities, he said, it's past that point.
Sadly, aviation lawyer, Ladd Sanger, said he's not surprised about another crash involving an air ambulance.
He knows EagleMed is doing more to prevent accidents, but obviously, it's not enough.
Sanger defended the victims of an EagleMed crash in Oklahoma City in 2013 where the pilot and a nurse died and a paramedic was injured.
Since then, there have been two more fatal crashes; the most recent was Thursday night, where Pilot Matt Matthews was killed.
“I will say I'm concerned about the safety history of EagleMed with four fatal crashes. That is significantly higher than the paramedical helicopter industry average," said Sanger.
There were 62 air ambulance accidents between 1991 and 2010, claiming 125 lives.
Last year, the FAA issued new, stricter flight rules and procedures.
EagleMed has implemented new policies, but still has the highest accident rate in the industry, according to Sanger.
"In my experience, the EagleMed folks have been very cooperative and attempted to do everything to help us get compensation for the victims' families," he said.
Sanger lists three contributing factors to air ambulance crashes - weather, environment, including power lines, and the stress of getting to the scene.
"There is competitive pressure to always get to the scene and always transport a patient and not turn down trips, even though the prudent thing to do would be to turn down trips," Sanger said.
He said many air transports should be done on the ground.
“Too often there are flights that are not medically necessary just to justify the use of keeping the helicopter at the hospital," he said.
Sanger now expects the NTSB to bring the aircraft to Dallas, but send the engine to the manufacturer for further investigation.
The president of EagleMed issued a statement saying the company will work closely with NTSB investigators.

EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYS HOME IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. THE CAUSE AND ORIGIN OF THE EXPLOSION/FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

MARCH 15, 2015

PHOENIX, ARIZONA (CBS5)

Firefighters had their work cut out for them after a fire in the backyard of a west Valley home.

Flames spread to the house quickly near 48th Avenue and Thunderbird on Saturday afternoon and almost caught two neighboring homes on fire.

"I'm shocked that the houses are still standing, that's how loud the explosion was. I thought I'd get here and there would be splinters of the houses all over the place," neighbor Debbie Bollino said.

All four people inside the home managed to escape.

Firefighters are looking into what may have caused the explosion and sparked those flames.

Source: www.kpho.com