Nurse Falls From Medical Helicopter

Surprised there isn't some kind of procedure for a safety harness when working to load a patient via hoist.
 
I fell out of the door of a Blackhawk hovering at 30 feet. I was getting ready to hook up for rappel and the guy behind me lost his footing and we both went out.

Fortunately we were in a swamp, so the landing was relatively soft. I didn't break anything but it knocked the wind out of me though. The other guy broke an ankle. It could have gone really bad though. Land wrong, like on your head or back, and it probably would have been instant death.
 
Such a sad case,trying to assist others.
 
This reminds me to check my seat belt.


It is really sad she died trying to help someone else. RIP
 
Yeah, I'm amazed she wouldn't be harnessed somehow.
 
Of course in order to dramatize things the author puts in the article that the FAA safety changes last year were postponed. No kidding, most went into effect this year. Not that would have made a difference in this accident.

So sad to hear about the nurse though.
 
Velocity173 said:
Of course in order to dramatize things the author puts in the article that the FAA safety changes last year were postponed. No kidding, most went into effect this year. Not that would have made a difference in this accident.



So sad to hear about the nurse though.
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I can't seem to open the article right now, but what safety rules could the FAA possibly come up with that were relevant in this type of rescue?
 
nddons said:
I can't seem to open the article right now, but what safety rules could the FAA possibly come up with that were relevant in this type of rescue?
Click to expand...

I agree. We don't know what happened, it could have been a case of ignored safety rules, equipment failures, just plain bad luck, who knows. I don't think the answer is simply to legislate something to fix a problem that may not exist.
 
nddons said:
I can't seem to open the article right now, but what safety rules could the FAA possibly come up with that were relevant in this type of rescue?
Click to expand...

The reference that R&W cited applies to this operation. However, the article alludes to the new changes (135.601) being postponed. Those changes in Helicopter Air Ambulance operations have no relivence to this accident. 135.621 could liberally be applied but that would be a stretch. I feel sure the entire crew was briefed by the PIC in the operation. That's a basic GOM requirement and not just a FAR requirement.
 
STAR flight is one of the few HEMS outfits that also conducts technical rescue. They are a cream of the crop, tier 1 outfit. The deceased had been a flight nurse in Colorado before moving and joining STAR Flight.

It appears that the pilot and paramedic were inside the aircraft, with the paramedic running the hoist. The nurse had deployed by hoist to the patient, and either separated from the hoist on the way down, or on the way back up with the patient. There is video of the evolution available to investigators, taken from the aircraft.

This link by local media is the most comprehensive account of the program and the accident I've found thus far.

http://www.kvue.com/longform/news/l...g-to-fall-at-barton-creek-greenbelt/26489199/
 
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