Wind A Possible Factor In Accident

Witnesses report a medical helicopter attempting to land at a car accident scene was reportedly blown into power lines and a hard landing in southwest Kansas Wednesday.

"He (the pilot) tried to go back up but the wind got under him. Then he tried to dive under them (power lines). They caught him, then he smashed into the ground," witness Dean Ryan told KAKE News.

Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ronald Knoefel said the MidWest LifeTeam Bell 206B-L4 helo (accident aircraft shown above) was on its way to pick up a patient that was involved in a collision between a tractor trailer and a pickup near Mullinville. Wind gusts up to 40 mph were recorded in the area.

"Since we just recently got helicopter service out here in southwestern Kansas this is the first one we've had with (an) air ambulance that was a helicopter," says Lt. Randy Moser with the KHP.

It's unknown if the wind had any thing to do with the accident.

"I don't know but it's making things pretty miserable out here for us. Which makes figuring out what the problem was that much harder," said Moser of the wind.

AirMD, owner and operator of LifeTeam Air Ambulance, said three crew members were injured and were flown to a Wichita hospital.

The crew has been identified as pilot Richard L. Schneider, Flight Paramedic Jeffrey D. Luck and Flight Nurse Teresa K. Pearson are listed in fair condition at a local hospital.

As ANN reported, LifeTeam took delivery of the accident helo in April of this year.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 1813        Make/Model: B206      Description: BELL 206B HELICOPTER
  Date: 08/22/2007     Time: 1730

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

LOCATION
  City: MULLINVILLE   State: KS   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  N1813, A BELL 206-L4 ROTORCRAFT, STRUCK WIRES WHILE LANDING, MULLINVILLE, KS

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   2     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: METAR KDDC AUTO 19021G31KT 10SM CLR 33/16 A2994

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Air Ambulance      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: WICHITA, KS  (CE07)                   Entry date: 08/23/2007

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.midwestaviation.com/charter/lifeteam