Medical helicopter crash deaths on record pace

By Alan Levin, USA TODAY

The fiery midair collision between two helicopters in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Sunday put this year on pace to be the deadliest ever for air ambulance crashes.

So far in 2008, 16 people have died in emergency medical helicopter crashes, including six people in Sunday's crash. That's two shy of the record 18 deaths in 2004, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

"Unfortunately we are moving toward a record-breaking year here," NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker said in a phone interview after traveling to the accident scene Monday. "We are hoping that this accident will sensitize the industry and the regulators to immediately begin a recognition of what is necessary to prevent these accidents."

The NTSB issued a special report in 2006 highlighting issues that had caused an upsurge in emergency helicopter crashes, particularly during nighttime and in poor visibility.

The number of crashes and fatalities fell briefly after the report was issued and the Federal Aviation Administration increased oversight of the industry, but they have risen this year.

An Air Methods helicopter collided with a Classic Helicopters flight about one-quarter mile from the Flagstaff Medical Center at about 3:45 p.m. Sunday. The Air Methods craft was heading north while the other helicopter was going in the opposite direction, Rosenker said. Both were following normal paths to the hospital. The collision occurred in clear weather, Rosenker said.

The victims included firefighter Michael McDonald, 26, who was being taken to the hospital on the Classic flight after being injured near the Grand Canyon. Also dead were pilot Tom Caldwell, 54, and paramedic Tom Clausing, 36. Flight nurse James Taylor, 36, was in critical condition.

All three aboard the other helicopter died: pilot Pat Graham, 50, flight nurse Shawn Shreeve, 36, and patient Raymond Zest, 54.

The collision between two air ambulance helicopters was the first in history, according to NTSB records. Previously, most fatal accidents occurred in poor visibility, often late at night, and NTSB's suggested safety improvements focused on those factors.

Investigators do not know why the pilots apparently failed in one of the most basic concepts of flight safety: to "see and avoid" other aircraft, Rosenker said.

Gary Sizemore, president of the National EMS Pilots Association, said that crews typically have several layers of protection against midair collisions. They often report by radio when approaching a hospital and frequently will announce their presence on a special radio frequency reserved for other helicopters, he said. The two helicopters were not under the supervision of air traffic controllers, Rosenker said.

The collision was recorded on a hospital surveillance camera and the recording will be sent to the NTSB's Washington, D.C., lab for analysis, Rosenker said.

Industry officials defended the safety record of air ambulance flights, saying 500,000 patients are transported safety each year.

"There is a lesson in every accident that needs to be communicated to increase safety," said Christopher Eastlee, government relations manager for the Association of Air Medical Services.