Helicopter down in Corsica/France

[skadi]

Sad news again:

A french Hems helicopter crashed last night in the northern region of the french mediterranian island Corsica, killing all five persons on board, including a young mother with her newborn child.

Reuters AlertNet - Mother, newborn killed in French helicopter crash (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LQ477509.htm)

International : Five including newborn dead in helicopter crash : 558644 (http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/558644/International/2/20/2)


skadi

[Pink Panther]

Very sad indeed:(

[drakkar]

It's an EC145, "Securité Civile".
Sad news...

[helimutt]

Very sad, yes, and tragic loss of life. I couldn't help but notice weather reported as being foggy! Is HEMS EU going same way as US? :uhoh:

[Phil77]

Yea, very sad...

Not commenting on the weather, but to argue broad "weather was really bad and most likely the cause" comments from the media (they say weather was rainy and windy with fog), here are the metars of Bastia airport from saturday evening (they were en-route to a hospital in Bastia):

LFKB 252330Z AUTO 14007KT 110V180 9999NDV BKN060/// OVC130/// 15/14 Q1016
LFKB 252253Z 13009KT 9000 -RA FEW010 SCT033 BKN110 15/14 Q1015 NOSIG
LFKB 252230Z 12011KT 9000 -RA FEW010 BKN033 BKN130 15/14 Q1015 NOSIG
LFKB 252200Z 13011KT 9999 -RA FEW010 BKN033 BKN130 15/14 Q1016 NOSIG
LFKB 252130Z 14008KT 120V180 9999 FEW010 SCT036 BKN130 15/14 Q1016 NOSIG
LFKB 252100Z 14007KT 9999 FEW010 BKN130 BKN200 15/14 Q1016 NOSIG
LFKB 252034Z 13009KT 9999 FEW010 BKN150 BKN200 15/14 Q1016 NOSIG
LFKB 252000Z 13009KT 9999 FEW010 BKN150 BKN200 15/14 Q1016 NOSIG
LFKB 251930Z 13008KT 9999 FEW010 BKN150 BKN200 15/14 Q1016 NOSIG
LFKB 251900Z 12007KT 9999 FEW010 BKN150 BKN200 15/13 Q1016 NOSIG
LFKB 251830Z 13009KT 9999 FEW010 BKN200 15/14 Q1016 NOSIG
LFKB 251800Z 13008KT 9999 FEW010 BKN200 15/14 Q1016 NOSIG
LFKB 251730Z 13010KT 100V160 9999 FEW010 BKN200 16/14 Q1016 NOSIG
LFKB 251700Z 12010KT 9999 FEW010 BKN200 16/15 Q1016 NOSIG

[skadi]

There are high mountains in central corsica and bastia is a harbourtown in the northeast. If they departed from west central corsica ( there is a city called letia, if thats the point of departure? ), the route will cross really high mountainous area.

skadi

[VeeAny]

Another tragic loss of life, I hope all concerned rest in peace. It feels awful that one life was so short.


SPlot is it worth splitting this like you suggested last time, and keeping the speculation away from the messages from the heart ?

[Furia]

Rest in peace and my condolences to the families.

[skadi]

It was a EC 145, which crashed in a remote, mountainious area.

Un hélicoptère s'écrase en Haute-Corse avec cinq personnes, aucune n'a survécu à l'accident , Société - Information NouvelObs.com (http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/depeches/societe/20090426.FAP8557/un_helicoptere_secrase_en_hautecorse_avec_cinq_personne.html )

skadi

[dvclama]

Hi All,
For having flown in this area for forest firefighting several times, I can tell those little deep valleys in North of Bastia are real hazardous traps to fly in with strong winds, Specialy if the wind blowing from East, because it brings low clouds from the sea wich have to be added, of course, to local cables and sharp terrain hazards.
The dead patient aparently gave birth on board just before the crash, that could be also one factor, coming as an emotion at the wrong moment, disturbing the pilot in a critical aero situation.
Peace
Philippe

[heli-cal]

The dead patient aparently gave birth on board just before the crash, that could be also one factor, coming as an emotion at the wrong moment, disturbing the pilot in a critical aero situation.

Are you seriously suggesting that the Pilot of an aero-medical helicopter was so disturbed by the pregnant patient giving birth during the course of the flight that it subsequently resulted in the loss of all on board and the destruction of the aircraft? :confused:

[skadi]

http://www.fotoalbum-medion.de/mediapool02_aldi_n/32/38/28/70/F0/BC/11/DA/9C/D2/C1/05/54/86/53/5B/oma/10/E029F100333211DEB0B9CAF4548650BB.jpg

They departed just 20 nm southwest of Bastia

[What Limits]

Interesting point made about distraction by a previous poster - what would distract you? Have you been at the birth of a child? Can you imagine what it would be like in an enclosed space like a helicopter at night and in reported bad weather.

I experienced a major distraction when a patient fought with two paramedics whilst I was flying a HEMS Bo105. Nasty business!

[Epiphany]

Heli Cal. Yes a distraction like that may well have contributed to the accident.

A small helicopter such as the EC145 is no place to cope with a birth particularly as it appears the doctor was the sole medical crew member. Had it been a difficult birth the combination of the mothers screams and the harrassed doctor possibly asking the pilots to get to the hospital asap would have created considerable stress in the cockpit.

I experienced a similar situation in a SPIFR Bell 412. I elected to carry out an ILS due to the weather being marginal which added about 15 mins to the flight. The baby died and although I think I made the right decision it is still something I think about years later.

[TOMMY1954]

I really don´t know the diagnose of this medical situation but what I know is that no helicopter should transport a woman in pré delivery state, and any obstetric emergency as to be resolved in a few minutes .
I find it strange that the medical crew was only one , in this case the doctor, who shoud have a nurse or paramedic with him.

[9Aplus]

Hard times, my condolences for all there, involved...:sad:

Here in 9A was some EC145 operating in HEMS before.

I was told by my pilots (from first hand experience) that with all medical
equipment, special floor and full IFR JAR OPS3 crew plus doctor and paramedic
and one heavy patient machine was heavy and whole time near over torque.
Something similar was experienced by REGA too.
Older BK117 was much better.
That "heavy" can add much trouble in marginal weather conditions over mountains....

[Domi]

There are no words...

[dvclama]

Hi all,
The birth took place on board, and the doctor was alone with no nurse to help him.
The basic Securite Civile crew is one pilot and one mecanic. The Mecanic is usualy in the front with the pilot, but he could have moved in the back to help the physician specialy. Yes I do believe this birth is a aditional factor in this accident.
I flew medevac for few years as single pilot on 355 and also agusta 109. It is a pain in the ass when you try to find your way flying low among obstacles with bad weather conditions, and at the same time medical staff being in big trouble with the patient behind you, trying to resucite him/her for exemple.
Giving birth inflight is not a comon or simple thing. It happened to friends of mine and they were all emotional about it, this is human factor anyway.
It also occured to me unruly drunk passengers and even a bad passenger hysterical crisis while I was doing a sight-seeing tour in a narrow canyon, among mountains, specialy when I was needing all my skills and concentration to not hit the planet..All those factors have to be considered, you can't really isolate yourself from the people on board, even you swich off the conferance button.
Watch up guys . Peace Phil :)