Medical helicopter crash in Oklahoma under scrutiny: a goose found in control system
The report didn't directly state that the bird was the reason for the crash, but it did mention that one dead goose was found in the helicopter’s flight control system, while others were discovered in a nearby field. Feathers from these birds were collected for identification.
5 Feb 2024 | updated: 7 March 2024 09:15
Whether the geese directly caused the crash is still unclear. However, it was reported that "a review of the bird hazard advisory system of the United States Air Force found that the likely presence of birds near the accident site is low." The National Transportation Safety Board has mentioned that producing a detailed report regarding the probable cause of the incident could take as long as two years.
The helicopter was returning from the hospital
The tragedy occurred on the 20th of January. The helicopter met its terrible fate about 60 miles west of Oklahoma City, in a grassy pasture.
After dropping off a patient at the Mercy Health Centre in Oklahoma City, the helicopter crew was returning to their base in Weatherford when the crash occurred.
The search for the helicopter began around 10:30 PM Greenwich Mean Time when the GPS system of the helicopter malfunctioned. The wreckage was found in an open pasture in Hydro.
The crash resulted in the death of the pilot, along with two members of the Air Evac team – an onboard nurse and a medic.
All major parts of the helicopter were found at the crash site - this was noted in the report.
The main part of the wreckage included the body of the craft, its engine, and tail rotor, with the gearbox located separately from the rest of the wreckage. A part of the engine rotor was discovered in a neighbouring field, and a mast nut was found amongst the nearby debris.
