As part of its continuing investigations into helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSN) has opened public dockets on nine such fatal crashes occurring between late 2007 and the end of 2008. Four of the dockets include probably cause determinations for the fatal accidents.

The nine docket items are:

The Dec. 3, 2007 crash of a Eurocopter BK117C1 helicopter (N141LG) into the ocean three miles east of Whittier, AK. The helicopter was operated by Evergreen Alaska Helicopters under contract to Providence Hospital, Anchorage, AK as a visual flight rules (VFR) patient transport flight when the accident occurred. Of the four persons aboard, only one body was recovered. The remaining three are presumed to have also died. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect.

The Dec. 30, 2007 loss of a Bell 206L-3 (N109AE) owned and operated by Air Evac EMS, which crashed while maneuvering near Cherokee, AL. The pilot, paramedic, and flight nurse were killed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed for the local aerial search flight.

The Feb. 5, 2008, crash of a Eurocopter AS350B2 (N911VA) that impacted water near South Padre Island, TX. The pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was operated by Metro Aviation, doing business as Valley Air Care, Harlingen, TX. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was en route to pick up a patient at an emergency landing zone in the parking lot of the South Padre Island Convention Center.

The May 10, 2008 loss of a Eurocopter EC 135 T2+ (N135UW) operated by Air Methods. It was destroyed during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain near La Crosse, WI. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, physician and flight nurse sustained fatal injuries.

The June 8, 2008 crash of a Bell 407 (N416PH) owned by PHI and operated as Med 12. It impacted a heavily forested area in the Sam Houston National Forest, south of Huntsville, TX. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot, flight nurse, flight paramedic, and passenger were fatally injured. The flight had departed Huntsville Memorial Hospital Heliport after picking up a patient, and was en route to Herman Memorial Hospital, Houston, TX.

The June 29, 2008 fatal mid-air involving a Bell 407 EMS (N407GA) and a Bell 407 (N407MJ), which collided while approaching the Flagstaff Medical Center helipad, Flagstaff, AZ. Both helicopters were destroyed and all seven persons aboard the two craft were killed. N407GA was operated by Air Methods, Englewood, CO, for Flagstaff Medical Center. N407MJ was operated by Classic Helicopter Services, Page, AZ, and registered to M&J Leisure, Ogden, UT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight plans were filed for both flights. N407GA's flight departed Flagstaff Pulliam Airport and N407MJ's flight departed the Grand Canyon National Park Service South Rim helibase, Tusayan, AZ.

The Aug. 31, 2008 loss of a Bell 206L-1 (N37AE) operated by Air Evac EMS, which crashed near Greensburg, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, flight nurse, and paramedic sustained fatal injuries. The accident flight departed Burney, Indiana, with the intention of returning to the aircraft's base located in Rushville, Indiana.

The Sept. 27, 2008, crash of a Eurocopter AS365N1 (N92MD), call sign Trooper 2, owned and operated by the Maryland State Police. It collided with trees and terrain in Maryland, near Washington, DC. The flight had been cleared by air traffic control (ATC) for an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 19R at Andrews AFB. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot, a flight paramedic, one emergency medical technician, and one of two automobile accident patients being transported were fatally injured. The other patient was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. The flight originated from a landing zone in Waldorf, MD, never reaching Prince George's County Hospital's Shock Trauma Center in Cheverly MD.

The Oct. 15, 2008 loss of a Bell 222 helicopter (N992AA) operated by Air Angels that impacted a radio station tower in Aurora, IL. It was en route to the Children's Memorial Hospital Heliport, Chicago, IL. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident site. All four occupants, including the pilot, a flight paramedic, a flight nurse, and the patient, were fatally injured.

Final reports on four of the aforementioned Safety Board investigations included probable cause determinations.

Safety Board investigators ruled that the Dec. 3, 2007 accident involving the Eurocopter BK117C1 helicopter in Alaska was due to thepilot's decision to continue VFR flight into night instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were the operator's failure to adhere to an FAA-approved and mandated safety risk management program, the FAA's failure to provide sufficient oversight of the operator to ensure they were in compliance with the risk management program, the pilot's lack of experience in night winter operations in Alaska, and the operator's lack of an EMS dispatch and flight following system.

The NTSB said the fatal EMS accident in late December 2007 involving the Air Evac Bell 206L-3 near Cherokee, AL, was due to thepilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during an out-of-ground-effect hover. Contributing to the accident was a loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

The Feb. 5, 2008 loss of the AS350B2 EMS chopper near South Padre Island, TX, was blamed on the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions, the low ceiling, dark night conditions, and the pilot's lack of recent instrument flying experience.

The June 8, 2008 fatal accident involving the PHI-owned Bell 407 and operated as Med 12, south of Huntsville, TX, was blamed on the pilot's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent. Contributing to the crash was the pilot's inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and the limited outside visual reference due to the dark night conditions, low clouds, and fog.