Pilot Had Survived Another Accident In 2002

Coast Guard rescue crews searching the waters off the coast near Seattle, WA have located debris from a Agusta A109/Mk II medevac copter (file photo of type, below) that went down Thursday night as it was returning to base after dropping off a passenger at a nearby hospital.

The three crew members onboard the copter are believed dead, according to media reports, including the pilot who barely survived another helicopter accident three years ago.

No one saw the AirLift Northwest helicopter go down at approximately 9:30 pm Thursday, although one witness called 911 to report a helicopter fly over near the accident site. The witness said "shortly after that [the helicopter] sounded 'funny' and then they heard an explosion," said Edmonds, WA police Sgt. Jeff Jones told reporters.

The pilot, 59-year-old Steve Smith, did not make a distress call before the helicopter dropped off of radar. A representative for AirLift Northwest stated Smith had last contacted the company dispatcher at 9:14 pm Thursday evening, approximately ten minutes before the helicopter went down.

Also onboard "Airlift 4" were flight nurses Erin Reed, 48, and Lois Suzuki, 47. All three were employed with AirLift Northwest, and were returning to Arlington Airport after dropping off a patient at a local hospital.

According to the NTSB, Thursday's accident was the third involving an AirLift Northwest A109/Mk II since 1995. A September 11, 1995 accident also claimed the life of a pilot and two nurses when their helicopter went down near the site of Thursday's accident. The NTSB states the pilot in that accident failed to maintain sufficient altitude over the water.

Smith barely survived a 2002 crash, when the helicopter he was flying alone experienced engine failure. He suffered serious injuries in that accident, including a torn cardial artery, a broken back and fractured ribs.

David Baker, acting medical director for emergency services at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center, said everyone at the hospital respected the work the medevac paramedics performed. "In some ways, flight nurses have to have the skills of a paramedic, the knowledge of a critical care nurse and the judgment of an emergency room physician," he said at a news conference.

Investigators asked anyone who may find wreckage from the Thursday accident washed up on the shore to contact local authorities immediately -- and not to jump to any conclusions.

"I'm not going to comment on what the cause might or might not be," said NTSB Investigator Georgia Struhsaker. "It's just way too early for that. I know people always want to ask, but we're just getting started with the investigation."

FMI: www.airliftnw.org; www.ntsb.gov