Alaska EMS Helicopter Crash Kills Four

NTSB Report ANC08FA025
Accident occurred Monday, December 03, 2007 in Whittier, AK
Aircraft: Eurocopter BK117C1, registration: N141LG
Injuries: 4 Fatal.
EMS Helicopter Crash Details:
On December 3, 2007, about 1718 Alaska standard time, a Eurocopter BK117C1 helicopter, N141LG, is presumed to have sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with ocean waters, about 3 miles east of Whittier, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated by Evergreen Alaska Helicopters, Inc., under contract to Lifeguard, Providence Hospital, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) patient transport flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The flight nurse received fatal injuries. The commercial certificated pilot, paramedic, and patient are missing, and presumed to have received fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed Cordova, Alaska, about 1630.

During the flight from Cordova to Anchorage, the pilot communicated the helicopter’s position and estimated time of arrival in Anchorage, to the hospital’s communications center at 10 minute intervals. The helicopter was reported missing when the pilot failed to make a subsequent position report, and attempts to communicate with the pilot failed.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (ARCC) initiated a search for the missing helicopter, and on December 8, the body of the flight nurse and some wreckage were found floating in Passage Canal near Whittier. On December 10, the active search for the helicopter and its three missing occupants was called off. NOTE: This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.