The pilot and two paramedics aboard an emergency medical services (EMS) helicopter were killed when their aircraft crashed on Feb. 5 near El Paso, TX, It was the first fatal accident for the U.S. helicopter EMS (HEMS) industry during 2010.

For the HEMS industry, 2008 was the deadliest year on record with eight fatal accidents totaling 29 fatalities, earning the sector a spot on the NTSB's Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. The following year, there was only one fatal HEMS accident. On Sept. 25, a Eurocopter AS-350 B2 (N417AE) helicopter EMS (HEMS) crashed near Georgetown, SC during a positioning flight after dropping off a patient in Charleston about two hours earlier. All three people on board---the pilot, flight nurse and paramedic-- -were killed.

The latest fatal accident for a U.S. HEMS aircraft involved another Eurocopter AS-350 B2 ECUREUIL (N157B).

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), on Feb. 5 at approximately 1920 mountain standard time, the AS350 was destroyed upon impact with terrain while maneuvering in the McGregor Military Range, 23 miles northeast of El Paso.

Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Part 135 practice emergency medical services flight. The helicopter was operated by Enchantment Aviation, Southwest Med Evac. Omniflight Helicopter owns Enchantment Aviation. The flight had departed the El Paso International Airport (KELP).

The flight was conducted under contract to the U.S. Army. The mission attempted to pick up a soldier to simulate transporting injured Army personnel. The flight was to use night vision goggles (NVGs) and standard company practice would be for the pilot and paramedic seated in the left aft seat to be on NVGs.

Several Army personnel utilizing various night vision devices were in the vicinity of the fatal accident. Army personnel stated that the helicopter arrived to the south of the accident site and made two right turn orbits. The helicopter was seen turning on and panning the white spot light during these orbits. Personnel on the ground attempted to make radio contact with the helicopter but were not successful, so they began utilizing illumination to signal the helicopter. The helicopter was then observed to make a third orbit which was wider than the first two. During the third orbit, the helicopter banked approximately 45 degrees and entered a steep nose down attitude before impacting the ground.

The helicopter collided with relatively level terrain covered by low-lying desert vegetation and the surrounding area was free of towers, transmission wires, and man-made obstacles.

The helicopter was found broken into several pieces, the largest of which were found in or near the 18-inch deep impact crater. All major components were accounted for at the accident site.

The post-impact fire consumed a majority of the cockpit instrumentation. The forward portion of the right skid toe was found fractured and embedded in hard soil with signatures consistent with an impact angle of 42 degrees nose low and 35 degrees of right bank.

After initial documentation of the scene, several components were retained for further examination.

According to the NTSB, the pilot had recently been hired by Enchantment Aviation, having previously flown helicopters for the U.S. Army and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

The pilot held airline transport pilot certificates for the Boeing 737, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, and Lockheed L-1011.

The pilot began training near the end of November 2009 and on December 22, 2009 the pilot completed the company's initial pilot-in-command training. On January 29, 2010, the pilot completed the company's NVG training program.

It may take up to a year for the Safety Board to issue its probable cause determination.