NTSB to release early findings on crash of medevac that flew out of Hagerstown
The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to issue a preliminary report later this month on what caused the crash of a medevac helicopter that flew out of Hagerstown Regional Airport on Tuesday and later went down in suburban Philadelphia.
The four people on board, a 2-month old girl, the pilot, a nurse and a medic, all survived the crash outside a church in Drexell Hill, Pa., authorities said.
A preliminary report is expected to be issued approximately 15 days from the date of the accident, NTSB spokeswoman Jennifer Gabris said Friday.
Life Net 81, a Eurocopter EC135, departed from Hagerstown at 10:29 a.m. and landed in Chambersburg, Pa., about 8 minutes later to pick up a baby at Chambersburg Hospital and take her to a facility in Philadelphia.
The helicopter took off at 12:05 p.m. and began having problems over U.S. 1 in Delaware County about 45 minutes later, authorities said.
The pilot searched for a place to land, gliding lower and lower overhead for about a mile before the aircraft "slammed violently" into the street at Bloomfield Avenue and Burmont Road, then skidded into the side of Drexel Hill United Methodist Church, Tim Boyce, director of Delaware County's Department of Emergency Services, told the Associated Press.
The baby was taken to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia by ambulance.
The identities of those involved have not been released.
Earlier: Hagerstown helicopter, flying child from Chambersburg, crashes near Philadelphia; all safe
More: Pilot of Hagerstown-based helicopter that crashed heralded for 'miracle' landing
The pilot, who sustained serious injuries, was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. The nurse and medic did not require medical attention.
No bystanders were injured, nor did the church receive any structural damage.
Witnesses and first responders called the crash landing a miracle and praised the pilot for avoiding all surrounding structures, utility poles and wires, the AP reported.
The NTSB is taking the lead on the investigation in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, authorities said.
The aircraft was taken to a secure facility in Delaware for further examination, according to Gabris.
“NTSB investigators will look at the human, machine and environment as the outline of the investigation,” she said in an email Friday. “Part of the investigation will be to request radar data, weather information and maintenance records.”
Investigations typically take 12 to 24 months to complete, according to information in the email.
The helicopter is operated by the Colorado-based private air medical service Air Methods.
“Our team will cooperate fully with (NTSB and FAA) efforts to assess the cause of this unfortunate accident,” Air Methods said in a statement on its website. “Privacy rights with regards to those on board the aircraft will be honored, and we will not be sharing any additional information."
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Preliminary NTSB report on medevac crash expected later this month
