Patient Lost, Crew Hurt

A Bell 206B-1 helicopter configured for medical transport went down in northwest Arkansas Monday, killing the patient and injuring the three crew members on board, according to local authorities. Federal and state investigators rushed to the scene on Tuesday, looking for clues.

Authorities said the aircraft (file photo of type, right) had been called to the scene of an auto accident in Benton County Monday afternoon, and was about to transport the injured driver to a nearby hospital. Witnesses said the aircraft rose to an altitude of about 400 AGL before it suddenly plunged back to the ground. While the landing gear was crushed, witnesses said the fuselage of the aircraft remained upright.

"It started spinning in slow circles, and then it sped up," witness Jana Austin told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "At first, I didn't think anything was wrong, but when it started spinning faster, I was a little spooked."

The helicopter fell fast, she said. "I thought I needed to run because the helicopter could explode."

The Bell 206B-1 was operated by Air Evac Lifeteam, based in West Plains, MO. The injured crew members were identified by Arkansas State Troopers as:

• Lead Flight Nurse Dee Ann Miller, 40, Bentonville, AR
• Pilot Dennis Enders, 53, Broken Arrow, OK
• Flight Paramedic Clayton Bratt, 56, Hulbert, OK

FAA Preliminary Accident Report

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 5734M        Make/Model: B206      Description: BELL 206B HELICOPTER
  Date: 02/21/2005     Time: 1945

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: CHEROKEE CITY   State: AR   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  N5734M, A BELL 206 ROTORCRAFT STALLED WHILE TRANSPORTING A PATIENT AND MADE
  A HARD LANDING, THERE WERE FOUR PERSONS ON BOARD, ONE WAS FATALLY INJURED,
  AND THREE SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, 2 NORTH OF CHEROKEE CITY, AR

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   3    Fat:   0     Ser:   3     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:    1    Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:          Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: ROG METAR 212035Z 08005KT 10SM CLR 16/07 A2998

OTHER DATA

  Departed: CLAREMORE, OK               Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance: UNK

  FAA FSDO: LITTLE ROCK, AR  (SW11)               Entry date: 02/22/2005

FMI: www.ntsb.gov