Patient On Board; No Injuries Reported

A HealthNet medical helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing Monday after experiencing engine problems in flight.

The turbine-powered Eurocopter AS-350B2 A-Star (file photo of type, right) was in the process of transporting a patient from Pleasant Valley Hospital in Point Pleasant, WV, to St. Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, said Kathy Cosco, media and community relations manager for Cabell Huntington Hospital.

HealthNet told WSAZ-3 in Charleston the helicopter "malfunctioned" and had low power but the pilot, Tom Reddick, was able to guide the chopper to an open area using night vision goggles to locate a landing site for the 'hard landing' during the early-morning incident.

Cosco said mechanics are assessing the aircraft to see if it can be repaired on site, or if it will need to be transported by truck back to Cabell Huntington Hospital, according to Ohio's Herald-Dispatch.

Cosco said she wasn't aware of the helicopter having a history of engine problems.

"It's very serious," Cosco said. "We take safety very seriously here. The HealthNet system takes safety very serious. System-wide they are approaching 50,000 accident-free missions."

Cosco said the pilot has more than 10 years service with HealthNet and all proper procedures were followed and the response was handled properly.

According to the company, HealthNet Aeromedical Services began service in 1986 and averages about 100,000 miles a year. The five aeromedical units, two Eurocopter EC135s and three Eurocopter A-Star B2s each carry a pilot, flight nurse and flight paramedic.

No injuries were reported.

FMI: http://cabellhuntington.org/services/healthnet_aeromedical/history/