On January 29, 2019, a Bell 407 helicopter operating as an air ambulance flight by Batesville, Arkansas-based Survival Flight crashed near Zaleski, Ohio, killing the pilot, the flight nurse and the flight paramedic.
NTSB Cites Poor Safety Culture in Air Ambulance Accident
Key Takeaways:
- A 2019 air ambulance crash, killing all three crew, was attributed to the pilot's inadvertent encounter with Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) and failure to maintain altitude.
- The NTSB cited the operator, Survival Flight, for inadequate safety management and non-compliance with risk assessment procedures, alongside the FAA for insufficient oversight and failure to mandate Safety Management Systems (SMS).
- The investigation prompted numerous NTSB recommendations for improved weather evaluation, mandatory flight recorders, and enhanced safety management, sparking broader industry discussion on helicopter safety improvements.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
