County halts usage of Air EMS Service after crash

[brentoli]

Good thinking or knee-jerk reaction?

Rush Co. halts med copter service after crash

Associated Press

RUSHVILLE, Ind. — Rush County is suspending use of the Missouri-based Air Evac Lifeteam because of a fatal crash involving one of its medical helicopters.

Three crew members were killed Sunday when the helicopter, on its way to its base at Rush Memorial Hospital, crashed in a farm field near the town of Burney in neighboring Decatur County. Air Evac, which also has Indiana bases in Brazil, Evansville and Paoli, suspended operations at all four bases temporarily.

The main rotor came off the helicopter before the crash, but the National transportation Safety Board is not expected to release the official cause for at least nine months, NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said.

However, Rush County commissioners and the director of the county’s emergency management agency notified the hospital in a letter this week that they would not use Air Evac flights pending a full review and inspection of the service’s helicopters.

Rush Memorial CEO Brad Smith said today the letter was unnecessary because Air Evac already had suspended all flights in the state.

“Even though I respect the good intentions of the local EMA Agency, Rush Memorial Hospital will follow the expertise of the FAA and the NTSB who are conducting this investigation,” Smith said.

Air Evac President Seth Myers said the FAA has received maintenance and inspection records on the helicopter that crashed.

“Many possible causes have been ruled out and those remaining would indicate a very rare failure or occurrence,” Myers said.

The helicopter was not carrying a patient when it crashed about 40 miles southeast of Indianapolis. It had been at an event at the Burney Volunteer Fire Department and crashed as it was returning to its base in Rushville.

Indy Star

[basic2be]

That makes four "Incidents" in Indiana since their arrival and four deaths in all. Unfortunately these fine people died while trying to boost membership and not "saving" lives. RIP.

[Chief1C]

That makes four "Incidents" in Indiana since their arrival and four deaths in all. Unfortunately these fine people died while trying to boost membership and not "saving" lives. RIP.

Their website states:

Since 1990 and flying over 135,000 patient missions, AEL has experienced neither a weather-related accident nor an accident related to its maintenance program;

[SANDMEDIC]

That makes four "Incidents" in Indiana since their arrival and four deaths in all. Unfortunately these fine people died while trying to boost membership and not "saving" lives. RIP.

:roll:

If you feel those numbers are staggering, you should do some research and look at Air Methods, Omni flight, or any other vendor and see those numbers.

No matter where anyone flies, accidents and incidents can be prevented.

Lets not try to point fingers at who is guilty, but what we can do to improve safety.