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On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, two minutes before midnight, an Emergency Medical Service helicopter flight crashed enroute to the Children’s Memorial Hospital, fatally injuring all four individuals aboard the Bell 222. The flight, which originated in Sandwich, Illinois, carried a pilot, a flight paramedic, a flight nurse and a one-year-old patient. The helicopter impacted a 734 foot tall radio tower at approximately 50 feet from the top of the tower. It then came to rest at approximately 0.2 miles from the tower. The tower was supported by guy wires. It is suspected that the rotor blades of the helicopter came in contact with the guy wires before colliding with the tower itself. The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate this terrible incident after the recent release of the preliminary report of this crash.
EMS operation crashes have been on the rise in the last three years, which prompted the NTSB to include several safety recommendations for EMS Flights on its “Most Wanted List.” In addition to these most-wanted safety improvements, the NTSB also recently scheduled a three-day public hearing concerning EMS flight safety, to be held in Washington, D.C., from February 3-5, 2009.
Mary Schiavo and the Motley Rice aviation team have litigated cases involving EMS transport crashes. The Motley Rice aviation team is reviewing this accident and any legal responsibility that the radio tower owners, Air Angels, Inc., and Bell Helicopter, may have to the families of the victims of this tragic accident. If you or someone you know is interested in seeking legal recourse due to wrongful death as a result of this accident, please contact Motley Rice aviation attorney Mary Schiavo toll free at 1-800-768-4026 or at mschiavo@motleyrice.com.
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