Helicopter Heroism Award Nominations
| Maryland State Police Aviation Command Swiftwater Rescue in a Tight Urban Environment | |
| Bethesda, Maryland - 23 December 2008 | |
| |
| Mr. James S. MacKay, II and Sergeant Nathan H. Wheelock Maryland State Police Aviation Command “Trooper 2” On December 23, 2008, at 8:15 am “Trooper 2”, crewed by pilot Jim MacKay and Trooper/Flight Paramedic Sergeant Nate Wheelock, was dispatched from its hangar at Andrews Air Force Base to the vicinity of River Road, Bethesda, Maryland. A catastrophic break in a 66-inch water main, causing 150,000 gallons of water a minute to flow down a steep road, trapped at least seven vehicles in the three to four foot deep, swiftly-flowing water. Trapped survivors had begun calling 911, pleading for help, as their cars filled with water and slid down the hill. In anticipation of possible hoist rescues, prior to launch, the crew reconfigured the aircraft by assembling the rescue basket and placing it in the helicopter cabin. During the eight minute flight to the scene the crew of Trooper 2 established and maintained communications with the Washington National airport air traffic control tower, Montgomery County Fire Command, US Park Police helicopter “Eagle One” (also inbound to the scene) and multiple news helicopters filming in the vicinity of the incident. In addition, Mr. MacKay and Sergeant Wheelock completed all appropriate hoist checklist steps. Upon arrival overhead, the Trooper 2 crew completed a comprehensive scene assessment to include determining the number and location of survivors as well as obstructions. At least seven cars were stranded by the rushing water and appeared to be unstable and at risk of being swept down the steeply-sloped hill and into the swollen Cabin John Creek. There were power lines paralleling each side of the road as well as crossing the road up- and downhill from the trapped vehicles. A canopy of 95 to 105 foot trees partially obstructed the roadway from above. The outside air temperature was 180F and the water temperature was nearly 400F. Some vehicles were unstable and had already slid partially down the hill and were lodged against other vehicles. The crew’s risk assessment also determined that, once committed to a hoist evolution, wires and other obstacles precluded a successful fly-away in the event of an engine failure or other critical aircraft malfunction. The Montgomery County swift water rescue team could not reach all of the survivors. Due to the length of time the survivors had been exposed to the frigid water and air temperatures, Fire Command asked the crew of Trooper 2 hoist all survivors possible. While Mr. MacKay held a precision hover within feet of trees and wires, Sergeant Wheelock expertly completed two hoist rescues of three survivors. During the first hoist from an altitude of 102 feet, a 22-year old woman self-extricated through her open car door window and climbed into the rescue basket. Sergeant Wheelock skillfully controlled the cable while winching the basket up to the helicopter. Once alongside, he brought the survivor on board and secured her into a seat. Working as a team to clear the rotor blades from nearby trees, Mr. MacKay repositioned the aircraft forward approximately 20 feet and up to 108 feet above the road. Sergeant Wheelock again lowered the basket and positioned it perfectly into the “V created by the open front passenger door of a survivor’s vehicle. The intense cold, rotor system downwash, and rushing water made placement into the space of the open door extremely challenging. Two survivors, a mother and her 9-year old son, climbed into the rescue basket. Once again Sergeant Wheelock deftly guided the cable and basket up past wires and trees. Unable to detach the basket from the hoist cable due to a thick coating of ice on the cable hook, the crew decided to move to a nearby landing zone to manage the problem on the ground. With the last two survivors still in the basket, Mr. MacKay smoothly transitioned the aircraft to an open field ¼ mile away and carefully touched down. Once on the ground, the last two survivors were placed in the aircraft cabin and the heat was immediately placed to full open. With the added leverage of having both feet on the ground, Sergeant Wheelock successfully unhooked the rescue basket, stored it in the cabin and completed an initial medical assessment of the three survivors. All three were soaking wet, covered with ice and shivering. Mr. MacKay lifted off and flew 3 ¼ miles to the nearest trauma center, Suburban hospital, for definitive evaluation and treatment of the survivors for hypothermia. Everyone made a complete recovery. The crew of Trooper 2 tapped years of skill and judgment to save the lives of three people. Their actions reflect the very best of the Maryland State Police and the helicopter community and truly deserve to be recognized with the Helicopter Heroism Award. | |
