Careflight - for sale, used prop and stretcher.

[tric]

Rumour has it that a Careflight Kingair allowed a stretcher to come into contact with a turning propellor. (hope there wasn't a patient on it):ok:

They apparently flew down another Kingair, ripped the prop of that one, placed it on the stricken aircraft and flew it back to Darwin leaving the donor Kingair there. :{

Not sure of the prop strike protocol on a PT6, piston would require bulk strip, now where is that PW manual....:}

[Skidmark]

As controvertial as this mob may be lately,- I don't believe this rumour. Give us some evidence at least Tric! Surely this has to be untrue.

I mean the stretcher is in the aircraft right??? So how on earth can it get out with the props still under power??? Are you saying that the thing was still running??? Did someone forget to put the stretcher back on??? Naaaahhhhh!!!!

But if it is true....??????
Could this spell one of the shortest lived victories in NT aviation contracts?

[neville_nobody]

Given that the entry door in a B200 is from the rear I don't see how you could put a stretcher into a prop.

Possibly whilst in the hangar or park they stuffed up and drove one in whist moving around but I don't see how it could be done loading/unloading.

[FRQ Charlie Bravo]

Maybe it was one of those new B200s with the pusher props?

FRQ CB

[The Voice]

:sad: sad, but true - but not 100% accurate. If you replace the word stretcher with trolley you're closer to the truth ..

[Wally Mk2]

There could be a whole heap of scenarios to this one. Stretcher or no stretcher this is very possible as there is often more than one A/C parked next to each other being services with equip etc whilst an engine is running on another plane. Parked next to each other but facing opposite directions has the cargo door perfectly lined up with a spinning prop arc on the other plane.

I've seen this very situation come very close a few times where someone is starting up the plane beside another plane being preped ready for a flight with a stretcher being taken off. This is then left unattended momentarily it's a windy day the trolley/stretcher starts rolling, very nasty if contact was made.
It's a very dangerous environment around Ambo planes where you can have re-fulers, ambo's, ambo trucks, walking patients, patients escorts, equipment etc all whilst within only a few meters of a plane that has two engines running.
So am not surprised if this thread is true.

Wmk2

[Arnold E]

Prop would not necessarily need to be turning to be damaged by something running into it

[tric]

Skids - maate, my disclamer was in the first line "rumour has it" :E I got the info from a mate who got it from a mate. That is the true definition of a rumour. :}

[baron_beeza]

hmmmm.
Rumour has it this is a waste of space
I was in the hangar yesterday and they were talking about a 'wheels up' on a 210, getting organised to do the retrieve on that.

I never saw, or heard, anything about a prop on a King Air.

Not to say it hasn't got any foundation at all.

Was the mate of a mate a journalist ? or a policeman perhaps...;)




Rumour has it the All Blacks were dicked again by the Springboks :ooh:

[goldypilot]

baron beeza sunds like ur hangin out in the wrong hangar then. this story was confirmed to me today

[baron_beeza]

I am thinking it was the right hangar, maybe just a little late in the day.

5pm on a Friday night and I guess the topics of conversations were on other things. I didn't hear it mentioned, but people were coming and going the entire time.
It may have received an airing before I got there.

[Dances With Dingoes]

Wally II

Parked next to each other but facing opposite directions has the cargo door perfectly lined .....Wally, point of interest, due to budget constraints, the King Airs in question only have the smaller crew doors. No cargo doors :eek:

DD

[morno]

DWD,
The Queensland RFDS King Air's only have the normal air stair door too. Whilst not ideal, they've been surviving with them for the last 10 years, :ok:.

morno

[Wally Mk2]

Yeah I hear that patients are being loaded thru the normal door, must be damn awkward at times. Still I guess the same dangers apply re people & equip about next to another operating machine. I don't know how they get the fatties thru the door if on a stretcher, we have lots of fatties who barely make it thru the door when walking up as they are well over the stretcher limits.



Wmk2

[Al Fentanyl]

I can think of about a hundred different ways for a stretcher to collide with a prop, most of which revolve around carelessness or lack of knowledge/training/awareness in the complexities of an aeromedical operation. Wonder whether we'll see an ATSB report........:hmm:

The Qld RFDS system with the standard doors seems to work OK. Bariatric patients are becoming the norm rather than the exception these days. I believe that Qld is buying some new Kingairs with the same lift-free heavyweight-capable loading system as NSW.