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:
- The 2019 Ohio air ambulance crash, which killed all three occupants, was primarily attributed to the pilot's inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and subsequent collision with terrain.
- The NTSB identified Survival Flight's inadequate safety management, which normalized non-compliance with risk-analysis procedures, and the FAA's insufficient oversight of the operator's risk management program as key contributing factors.
- Systemic safety issues included the failure to conduct comprehensive preflight weather evaluations and risk assessments, the absence of flight recorders, and the need for improved weather technology and safety management systems across the industry.
- Industry responses generally supported NTSB recommendations for enhanced safety measures like flight data monitoring and safety management systems, but some organizations questioned specific suggestions, such as requiring helicopter-specific FAA inspectors.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
