Another HEMS crash

Been a bad week for helo's. Making me look even harder at getting out of HEMS and going FW...all sectors of aviation are dangerous, but this is getting out of hand. At least 121 has a better safety record...
 
Crap. EMD does not have good luck in OK. I'm not certain, but I think after the crash near OKC, that based moved to McAlister.
 
I think we have to be careful I know a member here is friends with the pilot who died.

EagleMed had historically been an incredibly safe operation with 28 years and no rotor wing crashes. Since being purchased by Bain they have had 4 fatal crashes, which considering they only have 15 helicopters is an amazing amount. The medic on board this flight was also on board their fatal crash in 2013.
 
deadstick said:
Crap. EMD does not have good luck in OK. I'm not certain, but I think after the crash near OKC, that based moved to McAlister.
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The helicopter in OKC stayed there until the second crash on the NW side of OKC. EMD was already operating the McAlester base before that happened. They took over from Air Evac. I couldn't see the tail number but I'm pretty sure I fueled that same chopper last Friday night. It would be the second chopper I've fueled before that has been lost. Very tragic. I always enjoy working with the EMD and Air Evac crews. I hope the others recover fully.
 
pntbllr233 said:
The helicopter in OKC stayed there until the second crash on the NW side of OKC. EMD was already operating the McAlester base before that happened. They took over from Air Evac. I couldn't see the tail number but I'm pretty sure I fueled that same chopper last Friday night. It would be the second chopper I've fueled before that has been lost. Very tragic. I always enjoy working with the EMD and Air Evac crews. I hope the others recover fully.
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Thanks for clearing it up. I was referencing the second one, but the move I was remembering was 21 leaving HSD for MLC. This sucks.

I_Money said:
The medic on board this flight was also on board their fatal crash in 2013.
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Holy crap!

Edit: I forgot is base had the accident 6/2013 at the hospital. I was thinking about the 7/2010 and 2/2013 accidents.
 
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Very sad to hear about all of these recent crashes. As someone who eventually wants to get into HEMS flying, all of the recent events over the past few years are making me question my ultimate goal. It seems that some companies have a much better safety culture than others though. Prayers for the victims and all of their families.
 
Been flying HEMS for 3yrs now. It can be a one of the easiest jobs, and also one of the hardest all in the same week, or day for that matter. Outlying bases, with little to no weather reporting, and unimproved landing sites can make for a challenging flight. I have been caught out a few times bc of unforecast weather along my route of flight, and I guess the good thing is, that unlike an airplane, a off airport landing can be made pretty much anywhere. On the other hand, 75% of my landings ARE to scene/unimproved landing sites, so you have to keep a good scan, and have a watchful crew to help out.
I have recently began questioning the career, and thinking very seriously about jumping over to regionals, with hopes for a major gig at some point. I hate to give up flying all together, and it seems like FW 121 will provide a slightly safer environment to work in. Anyways, thoughts and prayers to all involved. I hope that something can be done one day to help reduce the accident rate, but Im not real sure what that could be..
 
Boris Badenov said:
Twin engines, two pilots, IFR certification, autopilots...and that's just off the top of my head.

Which is not to speculate in any way on the cause of this accident. RIP.
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I agree that would be a huge improvement, but it seems that even with all of that, perfectly good helicopters are crashing.

Take for instance the Careflite twin engine A109 that crashed last July when it ran into terrain. It was equipped with Autopilot and Htwas and still ran into rising terrain.
 
Boris Badenov said:
Twin engines, two pilots, IFR certification, autopilots...and that's just off the top of my head.
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Jeez. Starting to sound like JH. It's hard to go to a scene in an S76 or an S92.

I'd rather fly a single engine helicopter, a Bell at least, than a SE Platypus. Besides the sheer fun, if the engine tanks, it CAN land in a confined area.

So many HEMS accidents have been attributed to weather, it's rediculous. Don Lemon jokes aside, black holes are a threat. I'm talking about black holes of current weather information and not computer interpolations.
 
Yeah Im not sure the whole 2 pilot 2 engine thing will apply to a lot of the accidents..I think it definitely would help in some instances, but its hard to say....I think the biggest thing would be to put a stop to "helicopter shopping", reduce the pressure to fly in crap wx, and maybe even stop doing night scene landings. Id much rather go into a hospital at night, vs a scene.
My company has lost two aircraft, both birds equipped with Aspen glass PFD/MFD display, HTAWS, and autopilot, so Im kinda at a loss as to what to think..
 
Sorry to hear it, RIP to the fallen.

badtransam97 said:
I have recently began questioning the career, and thinking very seriously about jumping over to regionals, with hopes for a major gig at some point. I hate to give up flying all together, and it seems like FW 121 will provide a slightly safer environment to work in. Anyways, thoughts and prayers to all involved. I hope that something can be done one day to help reduce the accident rate, but Im not real sure what that could be..
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See below...

Boris Badenov said:
Twin engines, two pilots, IFR certification, autopilots...and that's just off the top of my head.
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As lame as a lot of people think Part 121 flying is, it really is nice to have (at least) two engines, (at least) two pilots, (at least) two instrument ratings, instrument flying equipment that would make Gann wet himself, and an autopilot (or two, or even three, depending on the airplane) that can fly the airplane, in many ways, more precisely and consistently than I can (even if it tends to be stupid and slow to react to a situation that requires a rapid change in flight dynamics, but that's what I'm there for).

Granted, our mission is also quite different; we are generally flying to airports, not unimproved landing sites, and on and on. Nonetheless, dying in the airplane isn't even on my top ten things I realistically consider when I show up as a probable outcome. (I additionally take great pains to avoid it, of course - with great equipment comes the requirement to employ it in a highly responsible manner.)

Oh, and sometimes, I get a first class meal when they have spares. ;)
 
Autothrust Blue said:
Sorry to hear it, RIP to the fallen.


See below...


As lame as a lot of people think Part 121 flying is, it really is nice to have (at least) two engines, (at least) two pilots, (at least) two instrument ratings, instrument flying equipment that would make Gann wet himself, and an autopilot (or two, or even three, depending on the airplane) that can fly the airplane, in many ways, more precisely and consistently than I can (even if it tends to be stupid and slow to react to a situation that requires a rapid change in flight dynamics, but that's what I'm there for).
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Even the E175 has ancient avionics compared to what the GA and 135 side has the option of putting in. IME, with the exception of freight, 135 has way better avionics than 121, but we need them a lot more than you guys to.
 
I feel for you HEMS guys, I'm sure there is a lot on most of your minds with the recent incidents. It's a dangerous line of work, but you guys help save a lot of people.
 
z987k said:
Even the E175 has ancient avionics compared to what the GA and 135 side has the option of putting in. IME, with the exception of freight, 135 has way better avionics than 121, but we need them a lot more than you guys to.
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I guess we're just boring and predictable then.
 
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