An SA365 Dauphin from UCAN (University of Chicago Hospital) suffered a mishap yesterday. Luckily no one was killed and the crew was only slighly injured. (Pilot, nurse, physician..)
Single piloted aircraft - this particular program flies 24/7 single pilot IFR.
Looks like the aircraft hit an obstacle on takeoff - but we will see what the NTSB says...
http://www.wndu.com/news/072005/news_43451.php
Porter County, IN - A medical helicopter from the University of Chicago carrying four people, including one patient, crashed on top of a hospital as it tried to take off.
It happened at about 4:00 Thursday afternoon at Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso.
There is still no official word on what caused the helicopter to crash on the hospital rooftop. Those who were on board only suffered minor injuries.
Crews were still at work late Thursday night and officials say that it will take a few days before they determine why the chopper went down.
The scene
“The whole helicopter started to wiggle and then, I don’t know if the wind caught it but it did a 180, it tipped on its side and then the blades and everything, you could just see it shatter,” said Amanda Pierce.
“Our dispatch center received a report of the crash on the roof,” said Cpl. Mike Grennes, Valparaiso City Police Department.
The rotors stripped, a large piece shattered a car window a block away. There was a piece of debris loud enough to cause Shawn Dutcher to go outside.
“I looked up and saw people being pulled out of the helicopter and watching all the police arrive,” said Dutcher.
The three crew members from Chicago Hospital were able to climb out on their own, suffering from only minor injuries. They included Ed Ban the pilot, physician Todd Ellingson, M.D. and flight nurse, Mary Rey.
The fourth person onboard was a patient being transferred to Chicago Hospital.
“We had to secure it before we could remove the patient because we did not want it to fall off the helipad,” said Robert Edgecomb, Valparaiso Fire Department.
“The patient was sedated for the flight. The patient remained sedated in the helicopter and was totally unaware of what was happening,” said Andrew Snyder, Porter Hospital media relations.
Until the FAA and NTSB complete their investigation, what went on will remain unknown.
Crews were securing the debris scene Thursday night. Officials said that it is the University of Chicago’s responsibility to remove the helicopter from the roof.
Single piloted aircraft - this particular program flies 24/7 single pilot IFR.
Looks like the aircraft hit an obstacle on takeoff - but we will see what the NTSB says...
http://www.wndu.com/news/072005/news_43451.php
Porter County, IN - A medical helicopter from the University of Chicago carrying four people, including one patient, crashed on top of a hospital as it tried to take off.
It happened at about 4:00 Thursday afternoon at Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso.
There is still no official word on what caused the helicopter to crash on the hospital rooftop. Those who were on board only suffered minor injuries.
Crews were still at work late Thursday night and officials say that it will take a few days before they determine why the chopper went down.
The scene
“The whole helicopter started to wiggle and then, I don’t know if the wind caught it but it did a 180, it tipped on its side and then the blades and everything, you could just see it shatter,” said Amanda Pierce.
“Our dispatch center received a report of the crash on the roof,” said Cpl. Mike Grennes, Valparaiso City Police Department.
The rotors stripped, a large piece shattered a car window a block away. There was a piece of debris loud enough to cause Shawn Dutcher to go outside.
“I looked up and saw people being pulled out of the helicopter and watching all the police arrive,” said Dutcher.
The three crew members from Chicago Hospital were able to climb out on their own, suffering from only minor injuries. They included Ed Ban the pilot, physician Todd Ellingson, M.D. and flight nurse, Mary Rey.
The fourth person onboard was a patient being transferred to Chicago Hospital.
“We had to secure it before we could remove the patient because we did not want it to fall off the helipad,” said Robert Edgecomb, Valparaiso Fire Department.
“The patient was sedated for the flight. The patient remained sedated in the helicopter and was totally unaware of what was happening,” said Andrew Snyder, Porter Hospital media relations.
Until the FAA and NTSB complete their investigation, what went on will remain unknown.
Crews were securing the debris scene Thursday night. Officials said that it is the University of Chicago’s responsibility to remove the helicopter from the roof.