05/08/2009

By FELICIA FONSECA  / Associated Press

A federal probe into the midair collision of two medical helicopters near a northern Arizona hospital that killed seven people last year places the blame on both pilots.

The pilots failed to see and avoid each other, a primary pilot responsibility, according to the National Transportation Safety Board report released on Friday.

Contributing to that error were one pilot's failure to contact the hospital's communications center as required and the other pilot's decision to approach from the south instead of along the normal flight path from the east.

The two helicopters were approaching Flagstaff Medical Center on the afternoon of June 29, each carrying a patient. They hit about a half-mile from the hospital and crashed into a forested area. All seven aboard the two aircraft died.

The helicopter operated by Colorado-based Air Methods Corporation had landed at a nearby airport to drop off a passenger before approaching the hospital from the south. That pilot contacted the hospital's communications center, but followed an unusual flight path. The pilot of the helicopter operated by Classic Helicopter Services of Page approached from the east and didn't radio in but took the normal flight path.

The report said the pilots were probably focused on landing in the seconds before they collided and never knew the other was in the area or saw the other aircraft.

Aaron Todd, chief executive of Air Methods, declined to comment on the report because of claims and liability issues.

A message left Friday morning with Classic was not immediately returned.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the crash was only the second midair crash involving a medical helicopter in the past 25 years, and the first that involved two medical aircraft.

It was among a series of nine medical chopper crashes since December 2007 that killed 35 people and led to increased scrutiny of the industry by federal regulators.

Neither of the helicopters involved in the Flagstaff crash was equipped with a system to avoid traffic collisions, nor was such a system required. But the report said that likely would have allowed the pilots to take action before a crash occurred.

"Certainly that is a technology we're looking into," Todd said. "But as of yet are trying to work closely with the FAA and other operators to determine the efficacy of that technology."

He said Air Methods is working to ensure that common frequencies are utilized by its pilots to better communicate around helipads.

Killed in the crash were Michael MacDonald, 26, of Browning, Mont., an injured firefighter being taken to the hospital, flight nurse Shawn "Clyde" Shreeve Jr., 36, of Flagstaff, patient Raymond Zest, 55, from Winslow, Ariz., pilot Patrick Graham, 51, of Flagstaff, pilot Tom Caldwell, 54, of Page, flight medic Tom Clausing, 36, of Leavenworth, Wash., and flight nurse James Taylor, 36, of Salt Lake City.