Another that hits close to home. This accident happened in the very neighborhood where I grew up! I truly appreciate you folks taking the time to watch this video. If you thought it was good please like and subscribe and even feel free to hit that “thanks” button so we can keep this channel going and make it grow. If you have a story or incident you’d like me to review please let me know in the comments below! Cheers!👊🤙🙏💙
Holy cow, same here...well I lived in downtown St. Pete. I remember this being in the news at the time. I actually lived directly behind BayFront hospital and I loved the sound of a helicopter landing at night. We were also right under the approach patter for Albert Whitted field. That crash site is almost impossible to get to and there is only one road going out to the power plant. And of course is was people on Snell Isle. There should be no way for people to bitch about aircraft noise. Most of the people move there well after flight paths had been well established. Its the same thing with gun ranges. I have seen so many Karens trying to close down small local GA airports and gun ranges that have been open for like 50 years.
At the time you made this video, you exposed the multi decades old continuing culture of safety in making the TAWS safety system mandatory in all commercially operated helicopters (especially HEMS). I am not making an unsubstantiated uneducated claim. All you have to do is look at the TCAS for commercial fixed wing planes and two specific midair commercial passenger jets and two privately owned single engine propeller engine operated planes that strayed into restricted airspace outside of SoCal airports. In 1978, a Pacific Southwest Airlines Boeing 727 rear ended a private plane over the skies of San Diego California in 1978. The NTSB investigators discovered a group of scientists who were working on this TCAS (one plane says climb and the other tells the pilots to descend to avoid a collision) in the growing aftermath of the world wide midair collision epidemic. The FAA ignored this until the aftermath of a Piper Cherokee pilot inadvertently used his plane's wings to chop off the horizontal stabilizer and a good portion of the vertical stabilizer of an Aero Mexico DC 9 that was on approach to LAX on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend 1986. The DC-9 crashed into a neighborhood in Ceritos California and the Piper Cherokee landed in an athletic field of a nearby public school. After this crash in 1986, the FAA finally made TCAS mandatory in all commercial jets flying in all airspace of the USA. The continuing fight was getting the FAA to make the system in all commercially operated propeller planes (commuter flights). Since the FAA made TCAS mandatory in commercially operated jets, there has not been one single midair collision involving at least one commercially operated jet in the USA. However, the story is very different outside of the USA airspace. There have been 3 different incidents. There was over southern Germany where the pilots of a Russian Commercial Passenger Turbo Prop plane and a DHL cargo plane that collided because the Russian pilots ignored their plain's computer instructions that were loud and clear on the CVR. There was one in India that happened because the crew of one plane lied about the fact their actual location to the ATC worker. The third one 5hat I know of happened in Brazil. The operators of a business jet didn't have their transponder on. This meant the crew of a Boeing 737 never got the warning because the transponder is a crucial element needed for TCAS to know about the presence of the other plane. I wouldn't point this FAA systemic failure in making safety system equipment mandatory without enough blood having been spilled if I didn't believe you care about safety or if I didn't care.😅
I want to add, I have also had to contend with noise complaints at our local airport. My opinion on this, most of the people complaining moved in AFTER the airport had been there for many years. If you intentionally move next to an airport, DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NOISE...DUH!!!
That is a problem across the country. In Denver the old Stapleton airport was in a rural area and as a kid my took me out there in the 50s and very few resident housing. Then developers got an OK from the city council for developing and built house. Then than law suits started and noise reduction began which is dangerous. Then the mayor Penia got 1000s of acres of productive wheat farms were condemned and a new airport built and now it is happening again. I grew up there and worked in aviation.
Exactly my thoughts too. Burns me up, big time!!! Reminds me of the Brain Dead, loud mouth Karens who are/ have been trying to get the Santa Monica Airport closed. That airport has been there for 99 YEARS, and opened in 1923. But yet, they moved there ANYWAY..... I would tell each and every single one of them to go pound sand!!! That airport was there long before they moved in. They don't have a leg to stand on, period!!!!
My uncle was the pilot. I was pretty young when it happened. The impact to his children and the entire family is impossible to measure. Mark was a good man.
I flew with Mark when St. Joe's vendor was Suncoast. I was on Clearwater Beach the day this happened. It was a gorgeous day, and I was stunned when I found out about it. He was a good man, and I have often thought about him, his crew, their families, and the community they supported. This incident significantly informed my career in HEMS.
I live in Holiday Florida. Back in 2006 I was in a bad roll over car accident. Where I went out the window and landed away from my car. My son was in the car too he was only 6 weeks old. Worse day of my life actually. Anyway I got really messed up, I Honestly don’t remember much. But I do remember hearing a helicopter then being packed up all snug and tight. I am deathly afraid of height’s. I do remember crying because I didn’t want to go with bay flight. I remember begging them to not take me one of the male medics told me it’s gonna be ok. He would hold my hand the entire time. They gave me something for pain and to calm me I guess I was in shock. The bay flight medic held to his word. He held my hand nice and tight and leaned in and kept talking to me the entire flight. If I got scared from a little bump he’d say my name. Then he’d ask what’s you birthday? What’s todays date? He’d keep asking me questions. Now I know they all do that. But I couldn’t speak my bottom teeth came threw my bottom lip and it was all torn open and blood was pouring out of my mouth. But he kept doing it over and over. I have never forgotten that. I forgot a lot else but not that.
As a retired offshore oil industry paramedic, I have been in the drink three times. In all instances I was in larger industrial two pilot birds. In two of my crashes I was the only survivor. I some how survived only suffering chemical asperation pneumonia on one instance. My pilots and my patient perished on two occasions. On the one in the middle we all walked away. It sucks to go through this. I never lost a day of work in all instances.
You are an incredible Narrator. You have the perfect voice and a “Not Boring” presence. Thank you for this and all your videos. If I could start life over - I would want to be a Helicopter Paramedic..
Friend of mine lost his fiance on that flight. He told me they were busy with a "new" (to them) way to communicate patient info that got both the PIC and medic distracted and weren't watching their position. The PIC had been flying that area for about 9 years so not like he wasn't familiar with the area. I was based with my BL-31A at KZPH at the time. Very preventable accident.
Hey Justin. A friend and former roommate of mine was scheduled to be on that flight. One of the crew asked him to switch shifts so he could attend a wedding. My friend was traumatized when it went down. If you want to chat with him, message me and I'll get you with him. He has some insight and might be willing to share it with you. Keep up the great work my friend.
Hey Glenn! That is crazy about your friend and I can understand they must have been terribly traumatized. :-( I very well may get with you to follow up. Cheers, my friend......J
I live in a hospital district and our house is constantly being buzzed by medical helicopters but being an aircraft enthusiast I enjoy watching them fly over they are amazing aircraft but recently they erected a 150ft cell tower practically in our back yard and it's on the flight path and that concerns Me especially after hearing this story.
Complacency, plane and simple! I worked for RMH Medical for 7 years, wonderful company! I was NEVER questioned or second guessed when grounding and aircraft! Great support! Sure miss RMH!
I've never flown helicopters but find it absolutely amazing that there aren't extremely detailed low altitude maps of at least high population areas with detailed obstruction info.
These are great videos and a fantastic tool for education. Thank you for the attention to detail to educate the professional and the lay public on how emergency services actually operate. Keep up the good work.
I always flew at 1200’, enroute when wx permitted, to stay clear of most towers and give me a bit more time to pick a good landing field if I lost an engine. I also had a good moving map program on my knee board that also had the towers highlighted in red or white. The towers cluttered the screen, 800’ is too low for an enroute leg especially over heavily populated areas!
Why does this channel not have 100k+ subscribers. I don’t understand it. What an awesome breakdown of this incident. Keep it up. Subscribers will come. Promise.
We just finished a morning walk at Weedon Island and I saw the Historical Marker on San Martin Blvd. I did not know about this as we did not live here in 2000. Thanks for posting this video! I was curious about the cause of the crash as I was in a forced landing / helicopter crash in 2003 in New Canaan CT on a blue sky day due to loss of power (throttle correlator).
In my aircrew flying days as a military medic in the DC area, our job on routine local trainers (UH-1N) was to be a third set of eyes watching for any oncoming obstacles, especially in recreational areas like Haines Point, where people often flew kites that could string aloft several hundred feet.
I am so glad to see this being talked about more and more! I started in the early 70's where the PIC was 'in command' and his/her word was final. If you spoke up, you got written up. That was the exact reason I left 2 good paying jobs. I feared for my life flying with certain people. I've even seen that as recent as 3 years ago. Open discussion about CRM is a very good thing, and may be the only way we resolve it!! Thanks!! JMHO's --gary
It's 0.8 nm from where I'm sitting to a major hospitals helipad. It's sometimes quite loud, there is a very high-end neighborhood in one flight path, but nobody complains about the noise! We may need those services.
Hey man great video, but I'll add that as a current EMS Helicopter pilot, there are a few things that were wrong in your explanations. Since 2017 ALL HEMS or Helicopter EMS part 135 operators must have HTAWS Helicopter terrain awareness system installed and operational, its not an option. Dual engine aircraft can fly up to 50 miles off shore without life vests aboard the aircraft, and if the crew have access to life vests then you can go even further.
Very good points, Donald. I do see that this actually became law in 2017 related to HTAWS. I'll post the link here for others to view but I will also see about adding a caption to the video for clarification. www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-G/part-135/subpart-L/section-135.605
radio towers have the added fun of the guy wires, I wonder if charts include the keep away radius for a tower as those wires can extend out pretty far.
Fantastic video. I flew that route for 20 years in an ENG helicopter. There is NO reason to be that low approaching the Gandy Transition to cross the bay. We typically flew at 700’. This pilot was definitely distracted. We all knew of that tower.
Quite a while back when I got my license, and we were still using paper charts, it was a cardinal sin to not have the appropriate charts aboard. With two crew up front, one of them should have been scanning the sky. You never know when another aircraft might appear in front of you. I had a situation near Gainesville where I was single pilot IFR in VMC, and as I performed my scan an airplane appeared out of the haze directly in front of me. I quickly cranked in about 40 degrees of bank, turning to the right, and in less than 10 seconds the other guy zoomed past a couple hundred feet to my left. ALWAYS keep a sky scan going, you never know what you might see.
Prayers out to their family and friends. I flew critical care air transport, often in austere conditions, often involving 2-3 different airframes on each transport, 800 to 12,000 miles. When the life of a patient is involved, pressures mount to approach, even go below, minimums. We live on an overflight of a local lifeflight. I don't know anyone who is upset with the noise of the helicopters.
Situational awareness fascinates me. I've watched many older C V R s here on you tube. The problem was responsible for a great many crashes. Even though CRMS has been instituted it is nit foolproof as people have to abide by its policies to avoid outcomes like this. Sad end.
I live near a busy general aviation airport. Small planes and helicopters (mostly med flights and state police) fly low over my house frequently. It has never bothered me a bit.
I kind of enjoy hearing the medevac helicopter calling at my local hospital, but admittedly, it's a small rural hospital and the chopper visits rarely enough that it's always a bit of an occasion. I always wonder why they've called it in and how it'll all turn out, though of course I'll never know.
I don't know why the neighborhood would complain about the noise. Its not like the helicopter goes to their neighborhood and just hovers above for hours. I can hear Life Flight coming in from several miles away and I don't worry about the noise. Its actually comforting to know that they are still around. I feel bad too when they are in flight because it usually means someone was seriously hurt.
the clue here is its a wealthy neighborhood, I bet the hospital was there and taking helicopters for years before the subdivision was built. I remember in my home town some high end houses went up on a hill that overlooked a valley area, which held the city's muni airport(just GA not commercial). Sure enough the city started to get noise complaints.
Nicely done! Yes, its very sad, but true, that almost all aviation systems, procedures, and resource management, have all stemmed from preventable accidents, especially those resulting in loss of life. As a result, we are considerably safer in the skies today, than, say, 30 years ago. Sadly some of those measures have not yet trickled down into General Aviation (personal-use aircraft). But, even so, GA is considerably safer today.
as a instrument rated pilot, who has done mostly single pilot IFR, my opinion is this; NEVER should both pilots have their eyes on the instruments. Yes I understand the paramedic was not a pilot in this case, however one of them should have been looking outside. If single pilot, flying VFR you should have a system of scanning the instruments as well as outside. If flying IFR especially single pilot, you have to maintain a very good scan of instruments. Just my opinion
Even in the late 1990s, my Lowrance portable GPS had an obstruction database! There is a "tower farm" just north of here, there would be harrowing to fly through at 500'. Of course, in my Skyhawk, I was at 3K or more.
This one hurt thinking about I was driving on gandy and thinking dam they are flying close to some of the radio towers close by One things for sure they definitely knew the towers were there and there’s multiple towers in that area including a TV station
Hi @laurenwallace7643 Thank you for commenting. I made a correction in the description of the video several years ago, correcting the date. I am SO SO sorry for your loss.
Do they not use MSA anymore? I was taught to know the MSA for the area I was in at all times. It was on the sectionals so you would know. Which means flying at 500 MSL when the obstructions in the area are 700 plus MSL is a big no no. Also I always had a problem with my instructors on helicopters wanting to fly as low as possible. I got my fixed wing ticket before my helicopter one and in that higher was better. When I started my copter rating they taught the opposite which never made sense to me. I much prefer having some room to play if something goes wrong not to mention you can see more at higher altitudes than lower ones. My instructors were always on me to get down, get down. I preferred at least 1000 to 1500 msl or better, while they preferred 500 or so feet where possible and even lower. Could these play into things. Its the only reason I can see a pilot flying lower than MSA for the area. It had been drilled into him to stay low.
I was told that fire or transmission trouble requires a quick landing. Also told, “helicopters often fly in low ceiling/poor vis so you might as well get used to it.” I prefer to fly about 2000 - 3000 AGL. I clear obstructions and can get down fast enough for most things. I’m going fixed wing and looking forward to less tower anxiety.
@@darrylday30 I truly believe fire is a problem for any type of aircraft. My instructor was ex military and he loved skimming the treetops so to speak. Nap of the earth type flying. Being taught in fixed wing higher gives you more options better situational awareness simply because you can see farther to make decisions with and more time to make any decisions needed before you meet the ground made my rotor craft training a conflict because they wanted me to fly very low AGL as you said. I did not and would not fly with a very low ceiling or poor vis unless I went IFR period. The helicopters I flew weren't IFR equipped so bad weather equals a firm no go. The planes were easy to get a pop up IFR if you didn't file beforehand. You should usually know your weather before you go out to your craft. I can't tell you the number of aircraft accidents I had drilled into me that had VFR into IFR conditions as cause of crash. Plus I actually loved flying IFR. I was rather cautious about flying and wasn't interested in going wild up there. Loved it to death but wanted to make it back in one piece. Watched a video on here a while back, guy in a jet took off VFR in super busy airspace to another airport a bit away and flew 200 knots at low altitude dodging a million small planes. Not for me, listening to TCAS going off every second when I could grab an IFR clearance and be in controlled conditions. Good luck with the fixed wing rating.
@@Ron-ik9ou Thanks Ron, I’m working on a multi IFR rating now. The strange thing is that I’m actually a mechanic. My flying hobby got out of control a years ago with fixed wing, floats, tail dragger, helicopter and instructor. I’m really looking forward to the next adventure and flying, for the most part, well above the towers.
The problem here is that they listened to the complaints of the crybabies on the ground and didn't consider the safety of the patients or crews. The affluent, AKA wealthy, stinking rich, complain about everything they don't like because they feel they are above everyone else and those underclass workers should bend to their will and kiss their asses. When the airport should have told them to go pound sand, because they may need that helicopter ride one day. I live close to an active Air Force Base to the East, flying several types of aircraft and helicopters, AKA Rotor Wing, a very active International Airport to the South East that has the largest full time Air National Guard Training Unit in the nation flying F-16's. Depending on the weather, wind and traffic patterns I'm right in the flight path of the airport. Plus there are several Hospitals and a large VA Hospital, All have helicopters. I have something flying over my house all the time. It doesn't bother me, you get used to it.
My take has always been that the routine nature of this leg (RTB after patient drop-off in an extremely familiar area) led them down the path to destruction. New gizmo in the panel, let's figure out how to work it and what it can do for us. I carried this incident in my back pocket throughout my career as an example of the insidious nature of complacency. Clear, blue and 22. CAVU to the moon. What could possibly go wrong?
I would wager that the same communities that complained about emergency helicopter traffic, probably complain about ambulances that are potentially caring their own loved ones. They should learn how to shut the hell up..
Hmm…I thought the TAWS system was based on ground radar sensing the terrain changes putting the aircraft in a collision with ‘terrain’ I am not aware of it sensing obstacles such as towers. I am only an aviation junkie and not a pilot…but have @3000hrs flight sim…at least I can hit ‘reset flight’😉
PHI had a 407(N429PH)hit a tower guy wire back in 2012 in San Antonio on approach to a hospital. Ripped off a skid but they were able to land on mattresses at the airport. I believe it was due to the pilot not flying the correct approach and instead chose his own approach that took them directly near 2 towers.
@@TheDrMedic Last time I looked I could only find a couple news articles. I wasn’t able to find an official report and got the details at the time from local flight crews I knew.
take the lesson. Not the regret. Use it in your clinical practice and stay safe. Know when today No. Kept me alive in HEMS for 28 years. How’s the job?
This accident would have been avoided if there wasn't a pissing contest. They were twice as close to the level one trauma center in Tampa. But since it was in Pinellas County they had to take them bayfront which is a level 2 trauma Center. After this accident all that changed
@@TheDrMedic hey man, thanks so much. like you, i spend a lot of time at the thing we all use. do the arm rests removeable? i guess amazon will tell me. thanks again.
I REMEMBER WHEN THAT HAPPENED IT CRASHED BEHIND GOODWILL AND DERBY LANE FOR THOSE COMPLAINING PEOPLE ABOUT THE NOISE COMPLAIN TO JESUS ABOUT THE SOUND OF THUNDER
Hi Carlton....yes right behind Derby Lane. I didn't mention it in the video as it was irrelevant, but I actually grew up right there in north east St. Pete frequented the Weedon Island preserve, where this took place, quite often. Small world!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3)
Not an accident that is as likely to happen today because of the HTAWS mandate (it is required for HAA operations and not an option mentioned in the video). Also, just because you CAN legally fly low in a helicopter (Part 135 300' day 500' night) doesn't mean you should. I fly HAA and my company recommends 1000' or higher and I fly 2000' and above to reduce mixing with fixed wing at airports, reduce bird strike threats and, obviously, avoid towers . Unless you are on fire or have low ceilings, attitude is your friend.
Good Video Coverage, but you say “Very” quite often. It’s a habit that was brought to my attention after a speaking event and thought I’d pass it on to you.
Endangering aircraft, crews, and passengers because some rich infantile Karens who move next to airports or along flight routes think the world revolves around them is criminal! How many crashes and accidents have occurred because of modified departure or approach r0utes/profiles and power management. Don't like the noise? Maybe don't live next to airports or heliports in major cities.
One of the problems with HEMS in the US. Too cheap to utilize dual pilot/twin engine helicopters. There are numerous cases where a dual pilot configuration would have prevented a crash.
Wrong attitude. I’ve done it so many time mea I’m familiar …. No sir each time must be treated as your first time. That’s what a gd pilot doing. Forget the 10 k hour’s experience. Means nothing. When you encounter such devastating accidents
Another that hits close to home. This accident happened in the very neighborhood where I grew up! I truly appreciate you folks taking the time to watch this video. If you thought it was good please like and subscribe and even feel free to hit that “thanks” button so we can keep this channel going and make it grow. If you have a story or incident you’d like me to review please let me know in the comments below! Cheers!👊🤙🙏💙
Yea, born and raised in that area. I love how in depth you go into you videos and don't just "cover a story". I hope your channel continues to grow!
Holy cow, same here...well I lived in downtown St. Pete. I remember this being in the news at the time. I actually lived directly behind BayFront hospital and I loved the sound of a helicopter landing at night. We were also right under the approach patter for Albert Whitted field. That crash site is almost impossible to get to and there is only one road going out to the power plant. And of course is was people on Snell Isle. There should be no way for people to bitch about aircraft noise. Most of the people move there well after flight paths had been well established. Its the same thing with gun ranges. I have seen so many Karens trying to close down small local GA airports and gun ranges that have been open for like 50 years.
@@adamvass244My Burg peeps in the chat!!!
At the time you made this video, you exposed the multi decades old continuing culture of safety in making the TAWS safety system mandatory in all commercially operated helicopters (especially HEMS). I am not making an unsubstantiated uneducated claim. All you have to do is look at the TCAS for commercial fixed wing planes and two specific midair commercial passenger jets and two privately owned single engine propeller engine operated planes that strayed into restricted airspace outside of SoCal airports. In 1978, a Pacific Southwest Airlines Boeing 727 rear ended a private plane over the skies of San Diego California in 1978. The NTSB investigators discovered a group of scientists who were working on this TCAS (one plane says climb and the other tells the pilots to descend to avoid a collision) in the growing aftermath of the world wide midair collision epidemic. The FAA ignored this until the aftermath of a Piper Cherokee pilot inadvertently used his plane's wings to chop off the horizontal stabilizer and a good portion of the vertical stabilizer of an Aero Mexico DC 9 that was on approach to LAX on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend 1986. The DC-9 crashed into a neighborhood in Ceritos California and the Piper Cherokee landed in an athletic field of a nearby public school. After this crash in 1986, the FAA finally made TCAS mandatory in all commercial jets flying in all airspace of the USA. The continuing fight was getting the FAA to make the system in all commercially operated propeller planes (commuter flights). Since the FAA made TCAS mandatory in commercially operated jets, there has not been one single midair collision involving at least one commercially operated jet in the USA. However, the story is very different outside of the USA airspace. There have been 3 different incidents. There was over southern Germany where the pilots of a Russian Commercial Passenger Turbo Prop plane and a DHL cargo plane that collided because the Russian pilots ignored their plain's computer instructions that were loud and clear on the CVR. There was one in India that happened because the crew of one plane lied about the fact their actual location to the ATC worker. The third one 5hat I know of happened in Brazil. The operators of a business jet didn't have their transponder on. This meant the crew of a Boeing 737 never got the warning because the transponder is a crucial element needed for TCAS to know about the presence of the other plane. I wouldn't point this FAA systemic failure in making safety system equipment mandatory without enough blood having been spilled if I didn't believe you care about safety or if I didn't care.😅
I want to add, I have also had to contend with noise complaints at our local airport. My opinion on this, most of the people complaining moved in AFTER the airport had been there for many years. If you intentionally move next to an airport, DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NOISE...DUH!!!
they are ignorant Karen's
It's like people that move where there is wildlife and then complain that there's wildlife.
They'll get used to it!!
That is a problem across the country. In Denver the old Stapleton airport was in a rural area and as a kid my took me out there in the 50s and very few resident housing. Then developers got an OK from the city council for developing and built house. Then than law suits started and noise reduction began which is dangerous. Then the mayor Penia got 1000s of acres of productive wheat farms were condemned and a new airport built and now it is happening again. I grew up there and worked in aviation.
Exactly my thoughts too. Burns me up, big time!!! Reminds me of the Brain Dead, loud mouth Karens who are/ have been trying to get the Santa Monica Airport closed. That airport has been there for 99 YEARS, and opened in 1923. But yet, they moved there ANYWAY..... I would tell each and every single one of them to go pound sand!!! That airport was there long before they moved in. They don't have a leg to stand on, period!!!!
My uncle was the pilot. I was pretty young when it happened. The impact to his children and the entire family is impossible to measure. Mark was a good man.
Wow I am sorry for your loss. I'm sure he was a great man!
I flew with Mark when St. Joe's vendor was Suncoast. I was on Clearwater Beach the day this happened. It was a gorgeous day, and I was stunned when I found out about it. He was a good man, and I have often thought about him, his crew, their families, and the community they supported.
This incident significantly informed my career in HEMS.
Really what was his name?
I live in Holiday Florida. Back in 2006 I was in a bad roll over car accident. Where I went out the window and landed away from my car. My son was in the car too he was only 6 weeks old. Worse day of my life actually. Anyway I got really messed up, I Honestly don’t remember much. But I do remember hearing a helicopter then being packed up all snug and tight. I am deathly afraid of height’s. I do remember crying because I didn’t want to go with bay flight. I remember begging them to not take me one of the male medics told me it’s gonna be ok. He would hold my hand the entire time. They gave me something for pain and to calm me I guess I was in shock. The bay flight medic held to his word. He held my hand nice and tight and leaned in and kept talking to me the entire flight. If I got scared from a little bump he’d say my name. Then he’d ask what’s you birthday? What’s todays date? He’d keep asking me questions. Now I know they all do that. But I couldn’t speak my bottom teeth came threw my bottom lip and it was all torn open and blood was pouring out of my mouth. But he kept doing it over and over. I have never forgotten that. I forgot a lot else but not that.
As a retired offshore oil industry paramedic, I have been in the drink three times. In all instances I was in larger industrial two pilot birds. In two of my crashes I was the only survivor. I some how survived only suffering chemical asperation pneumonia on one instance. My pilots and my patient perished on two occasions. On the one in the middle we all walked away. It sucks to go through this. I never lost a day of work in all instances.
Oh my god that is crazy! Sorry for your losses....but glad you survived!
That's nuts and whatever they paid you wasn't enough thanks for helping people
You are an incredible Narrator. You have the perfect voice and a “Not Boring” presence. Thank you for this and all your videos. If I could start life over - I would want to be a Helicopter Paramedic..
Friend of mine lost his fiance on that flight. He told me they were busy with a "new" (to them) way to communicate patient info that got both the PIC and medic distracted and weren't watching their position. The PIC had been flying that area for about 9 years so not like he wasn't familiar with the area. I was based with my BL-31A at KZPH at the time. Very preventable accident.
Hey Justin. A friend and former roommate of mine was scheduled to be on that flight. One of the crew asked him to switch shifts so he could attend a wedding. My friend was traumatized when it went down. If you want to chat with him, message me and I'll get you with him. He has some insight and might be willing to share it with you. Keep up the great work my friend.
Hey Glenn! That is crazy about your friend and I can understand they must have been terribly traumatized. :-( I very well may get with you to follow up. Cheers, my friend......J
I live in a hospital district and our house is constantly being buzzed by medical helicopters but being an aircraft enthusiast I enjoy watching them fly over they are amazing aircraft but recently they erected a 150ft cell tower practically in our back yard and it's on the flight path and that concerns Me especially after hearing this story.
Just recently found this Channel and Love it! Very interesting and Love the Knowledge. 🚁
Welcome aboard!
Complacency, plane and simple! I worked for RMH Medical for 7 years, wonderful company! I was NEVER questioned or second guessed when grounding and aircraft! Great support! Sure miss RMH!
I've never flown helicopters but find it absolutely amazing that there aren't extremely detailed low altitude maps of at least high population areas with detailed obstruction info.
These are great videos and a fantastic tool for education. Thank you for the attention to detail to educate the professional and the lay public on how emergency services actually operate. Keep up the good work.
Thank you very much!
I was a medic at Sunstar in St. Pete. Ended up flying for Bay Flight. Wonderful, lives lost
I always flew at 1200’, enroute when wx permitted, to stay clear of most towers and give me a bit more time to pick a good landing field if I lost an engine. I also had a good moving map program on my knee board that also had the towers highlighted in red or white. The towers cluttered the screen, 800’ is too low for an enroute leg especially over heavily populated areas!
Why does this channel not have 100k+ subscribers. I don’t understand it. What an awesome breakdown of this incident. Keep it up. Subscribers will come. Promise.
I am holding you to your promise @OMG No Way! ;-)
We just finished a morning walk at Weedon Island and I saw the Historical Marker on San Martin Blvd. I did not know about this as we did not live here in 2000. Thanks for posting this video! I was curious about the cause of the crash as I was in a forced landing / helicopter crash in 2003 in New Canaan CT on a blue sky day due to loss of power (throttle correlator).
Thanks for sharing, @GreaterStPeteAgent
I have spent many a days there at Weedon Island. Tragic loss.
In my aircrew flying days as a military medic in the DC area, our job on routine local trainers (UH-1N) was to be a third set of eyes watching for any oncoming obstacles, especially in recreational areas like Haines Point, where people often flew kites that could string aloft several hundred feet.
I am so glad to see this being talked about more and more! I started in the early 70's where the PIC was 'in command' and his/her word was final. If you spoke up, you got written up. That was the exact reason I left 2 good paying jobs. I feared for my life flying with certain people. I've even seen that as recent as 3 years ago. Open discussion about CRM is a very good thing, and may be the only way we resolve it!! Thanks!! JMHO's --gary
Love your videos! I’m working on my helicopter ratings and hope to be a HEMS pilot
It's 0.8 nm from where I'm sitting to a major hospitals helipad. It's sometimes quite loud, there is a very high-end neighborhood in one flight path, but nobody complains about the noise! We may need those services.
Hey man great video, but I'll add that as a current EMS Helicopter pilot, there are a few things that were wrong in your explanations. Since 2017 ALL HEMS or Helicopter EMS part 135 operators must have HTAWS Helicopter terrain awareness system installed and operational, its not an option. Dual engine aircraft can fly up to 50 miles off shore without life vests aboard the aircraft, and if the crew have access to life vests then you can go even further.
Very good points, Donald. I do see that this actually became law in 2017 related to HTAWS. I'll post the link here for others to view but I will also see about adding a caption to the video for clarification. www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-G/part-135/subpart-L/section-135.605
radio towers have the added fun of the guy wires, I wonder if charts include the keep away radius for a tower as those wires can extend out pretty far.
Deepest condolences to the family,colleagues and friends of these angels of mercy.As we say in aviation of our departed colleagues,blue skies,guys!
Fantastic video. I flew that route for 20 years in an ENG helicopter. There is NO reason to be that low approaching the Gandy Transition to cross the bay. We typically flew at 700’. This pilot was definitely distracted. We all knew of that tower.
There was an accident similar to this in Aurora, Illinois crashing into a tower on its way to Chicago hospital, killing all aboard at night
Why do you not have more subscribers? These are damn good videos.
Working on it!! :-) Just started this channel a few months ago. More videos coming soon! Thanks for watching!
@@TheDrMedic You'll get more subs, I'm sure. Don't get discouraged.
Quite a while back when I got my license, and we were still using paper charts, it was a cardinal sin to not have the appropriate charts aboard. With two crew up front, one of them should have been scanning the sky. You never know when another aircraft might appear in front of you. I had a situation near Gainesville where I was single pilot IFR in VMC, and as I performed my scan an airplane appeared out of the haze directly in front of me. I quickly cranked in about 40 degrees of bank, turning to the right, and in less than 10 seconds the other guy zoomed past a couple hundred feet to my left. ALWAYS keep a sky scan going, you never know what you might see.
How do you have only ~700 subs? You're amazing!
Working on it! ;-)
Really appreciate your top notch content.
Prayers out to their family and friends.
I flew critical care air transport, often in austere conditions, often involving 2-3 different airframes on each transport, 800 to 12,000 miles.
When the life of a patient is involved, pressures mount to approach, even go below, minimums.
We live on an overflight of a local lifeflight. I don't know anyone who is upset with the noise of the helicopters.
Great work. Very well presented.
Situational awareness fascinates me. I've watched many older C V R s here on you tube. The problem was responsible for a great many crashes. Even though CRMS has been instituted it is nit foolproof as people have to abide by its policies to avoid outcomes like this. Sad end.
I live near a busy general aviation airport. Small planes and helicopters (mostly med flights and state police) fly low over my house frequently. It has never bothered me a bit.
I remember hearing about this one when i was flying in EMS at Phoenix AZ. We all knew exactly what happened.😢
I kind of enjoy hearing the medevac helicopter calling at my local hospital, but admittedly, it's a small rural hospital and the chopper visits rarely enough that it's always a bit of an occasion. I always wonder why they've called it in and how it'll all turn out, though of course I'll never know.
8:30 Also, the CG of a helicopter is above the centerline, so they turn over in the water, which reduces the chances of escape due to disorientation.
YES! This is an excellent point!!
I don't know why the neighborhood would complain about the noise. Its not like the helicopter goes to their neighborhood and just hovers above for hours. I can hear Life Flight coming in from several miles away and I don't worry about the noise. Its actually comforting to know that they are still around. I feel bad too when they are in flight because it usually means someone was seriously hurt.
the clue here is its a wealthy neighborhood, I bet the hospital was there and taking helicopters for years before the subdivision was built. I remember in my home town some high end houses went up on a hill that overlooked a valley area, which held the city's muni airport(just GA not commercial). Sure enough the city started to get noise complaints.
Picky rich folks
Nicely done!
Yes, its very sad, but true, that almost all aviation systems, procedures, and resource management, have all stemmed from preventable accidents, especially those resulting in loss of life. As a result, we are considerably safer in the skies today, than, say, 30 years ago.
Sadly some of those measures have not yet trickled down into General Aviation (personal-use aircraft). But, even so, GA is considerably safer today.
as a instrument rated pilot, who has done mostly single pilot IFR, my opinion is this; NEVER should both pilots have their eyes on the instruments. Yes I understand the paramedic was not a pilot in this case, however one of them should have been looking outside. If single pilot, flying VFR you should have a system of scanning the instruments as well as outside. If flying IFR especially single pilot, you have to maintain a very good scan of instruments. Just my opinion
Even in the late 1990s, my Lowrance portable GPS had an obstruction database! There is a "tower farm" just north of here, there would be harrowing to fly through at 500'. Of course, in my Skyhawk, I was at 3K or more.
Thank you for the video.
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
This one hurt thinking about I was driving on gandy and thinking dam they are flying close to some of the radio towers close by One things for sure they definitely knew the towers were there and there’s multiple towers in that area including a TV station
I can't recall hearing about someone being killed and surviving!
Hey, love your videos. Would you consider doing one on the crash of Maryland State Police's Trooper 2?
@realtyler60000
That one is most definitely in the queue!
Could you try looking into a making a video on AirHeart1? (N916SH)
I know this tragic story!!! :-( I will take a look!
great video the DoctorMedlic
Glad you liked it!
That was my father flying the helicopter and the dates are wrong. It was April 25th and he was 39.
Hi @laurenwallace7643 Thank you for commenting. I made a correction in the description of the video several years ago, correcting the date. I am SO SO sorry for your loss.
Do they not use MSA anymore? I was taught to know the MSA for the area I was in at all times. It was on the sectionals so you would know. Which means flying at 500 MSL when the obstructions in the area are 700 plus MSL is a big no no. Also I always had a problem with my instructors on helicopters wanting to fly as low as possible. I got my fixed wing ticket before my helicopter one and in that higher was better. When I started my copter rating they taught the opposite which never made sense to me. I much prefer having some room to play if something goes wrong not to mention you can see more at higher altitudes than lower ones. My instructors were always on me to get down, get down. I preferred at least 1000 to 1500 msl or better, while they preferred 500 or so feet where possible and even lower. Could these play into things. Its the only reason I can see a pilot flying lower than MSA for the area. It had been drilled into him to stay low.
I was told that fire or transmission trouble requires a quick landing. Also told, “helicopters often fly in low ceiling/poor vis so you might as well get used to it.” I prefer to fly about 2000 - 3000 AGL. I clear obstructions and can get down fast enough for most things. I’m going fixed wing and looking forward to less tower anxiety.
@@darrylday30 I truly believe fire is a problem for any type of aircraft. My instructor was ex military and he loved skimming the treetops so to speak. Nap of the earth type flying. Being taught in fixed wing higher gives you more options better situational awareness simply because you can see farther to make decisions with and more time to make any decisions needed before you meet the ground made my rotor craft training a conflict because they wanted me to fly very low AGL as you said. I did not and would not fly with a very low ceiling or poor vis unless I went IFR period. The helicopters I flew weren't IFR equipped so bad weather equals a firm no go. The planes were easy to get a pop up IFR if you didn't file beforehand. You should usually know your weather before you go out to your craft. I can't tell you the number of aircraft accidents I had drilled into me that had VFR into IFR conditions as cause of crash. Plus I actually loved flying IFR. I was rather cautious about flying and wasn't interested in going wild up there. Loved it to death but wanted to make it back in one piece. Watched a video on here a while back, guy in a jet took off VFR in super busy airspace to another airport a bit away and flew 200 knots at low altitude dodging a million small planes. Not for me, listening to TCAS going off every second when I could grab an IFR clearance and be in controlled conditions. Good luck with the fixed wing rating.
@@Ron-ik9ou Thanks Ron, I’m working on a multi IFR rating now. The strange thing is that I’m actually a mechanic. My flying hobby got out of control a years ago with fixed wing, floats, tail dragger, helicopter and instructor. I’m really looking forward to the next adventure and flying, for the most part, well above the towers.
are not they required to have emergency float around open water?
Flying at 400 feet is way too low. I’d be complaining too.
Power lines and poles will get you every time if your not doing scan or checking maps.
The problem here is that they listened to the complaints of the crybabies on the ground and didn't consider the safety of the patients or crews. The affluent, AKA wealthy, stinking rich, complain about everything they don't like because they feel they are above everyone else and those underclass workers should bend to their will and kiss their asses. When the airport should have told them to go pound sand, because they may need that helicopter ride one day. I live close to an active Air Force Base to the East, flying several types of aircraft and helicopters, AKA Rotor Wing, a very active International Airport to the South East that has the largest full time Air National Guard Training Unit in the nation flying F-16's. Depending on the weather, wind and traffic patterns I'm right in the flight path of the airport. Plus there are several Hospitals and a large VA Hospital, All have helicopters. I have something flying over my house all the time. It doesn't bother me, you get used to it.
My take has always been that the routine nature of this leg (RTB after patient drop-off in an extremely familiar area) led them down the path to destruction. New gizmo in the panel, let's figure out how to work it and what it can do for us.
I carried this incident in my back pocket throughout my career as an example of the insidious nature of complacency.
Clear, blue and 22.
CAVU to the moon.
What could possibly go wrong?
This is a medical helicopter they should have priority
I would wager that the same communities that complained about emergency helicopter traffic, probably complain about ambulances that are potentially caring their own loved ones. They should learn how to shut the hell up..
Hmm…I thought the TAWS system was based on ground radar sensing the terrain changes putting the aircraft in a collision with ‘terrain’
I am not aware of it sensing obstacles such as towers.
I am only an aviation junkie and not a pilot…but have @3000hrs flight sim…at least I can hit ‘reset flight’😉
PHI had a 407(N429PH)hit a tower guy wire back in 2012 in San Antonio on approach to a hospital. Ripped off a skid but they were able to land on mattresses at the airport.
I believe it was due to the pilot not flying the correct approach and instead chose his own approach that took them directly near 2 towers.
I am definitely going to read up on this one!
@@TheDrMedic Last time I looked I could only find a couple news articles. I wasn’t able to find an official report and got the details at the time from local flight crews I knew.
I need to stop watching these video since I’m going to be starting in HEMS next month 😮
take the lesson. Not the regret. Use it in your clinical practice and stay safe. Know when today No. Kept me alive in HEMS for 28 years.
How’s the job?
Love the bk 117
This accident would have been avoided if there wasn't a pissing contest. They were twice as close to the level one trauma center in Tampa. But since it was in Pinellas County they had to take them bayfront which is a level 2 trauma Center. After this accident all that changed
great video, just subbed. where did you get that chair?
Hey thanks! I believe this is the exact chair here smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QF87184/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
@@TheDrMedic hey man, thanks so much. like you, i spend a lot of time at the thing we all use. do the arm rests removeable? i guess amazon will tell me. thanks again.
Why would any medical professional fly in an aircraft without TAWS
The FAA did not require it until 2006. This incident happened in 2000.
I REMEMBER WHEN THAT HAPPENED IT CRASHED BEHIND GOODWILL AND DERBY LANE FOR THOSE COMPLAINING PEOPLE ABOUT THE NOISE COMPLAIN TO JESUS ABOUT THE SOUND OF THUNDER
Hi Carlton....yes right behind Derby Lane. I didn't mention it in the video as it was irrelevant, but I actually grew up right there in north east St. Pete frequented the Weedon Island preserve, where this took place, quite often. Small world!
Why not fly the aircraft to landing before you land in a helicopter. Pilots get used to autopilot
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3)
Not an accident that is as likely to happen today because of the HTAWS mandate (it is required for HAA operations and not an option mentioned in the video). Also, just because you CAN legally fly low in a helicopter (Part 135 300' day 500' night) doesn't mean you should. I fly HAA and my company recommends 1000' or higher and I fly 2000' and above to reduce mixing with fixed wing at airports, reduce bird strike threats and, obviously, avoid towers . Unless you are on fire or have low ceilings, attitude is your friend.
Great points, @Jetjockgordo I did realize the info about the HTAWS requirements and added a correction and link in the description.
Was the tower not on the sectional chart?
It actually was on the chart
@@TheDrMedic I would hope so though there was little or no pre-flight planning. What a shame for this to happen.
Class 2 for a pilot!
Aircraft is the singular and plural. Also, pilot in command, not in charge. You get lots of these things wrong.
Good Video Coverage, but you say “Very” quite often. It’s a habit that was brought to my attention after a speaking event and thought I’d pass it on to you.
Noted! Thank you very much ;-)
Nice earrings, Pirate look!
Where's tcast
In other words, fly over the lower income housing.
background music not loud and annoying enough
Endangering aircraft, crews, and passengers because some rich infantile Karens who move next to airports or along flight routes think the world revolves around them is criminal! How many crashes and accidents have occurred because of modified departure or approach r0utes/profiles and power management. Don't like the noise? Maybe don't live next to airports or heliports in major cities.
Dual pilot. The only way to fly.
Adds weight and cost
One of the problems with HEMS in the US. Too cheap to utilize dual pilot/twin engine helicopters. There are numerous cases where a dual pilot configuration would have prevented a crash.
Firmly agree. We need to push these greedy companies to do dual pilot.
Wrong attitude. I’ve done it so many time mea I’m familiar …. No sir each time must be treated as your first time. That’s what a gd pilot doing. Forget the 10 k hour’s experience. Means nothing. When you encounter such devastating accidents
Freaks are in
comment
I don't watch tattoos, nail polish and earrings.
Sorry you feel that way, Jeff. I hope you have a great day!
Pilot really screwed up.
At least they stopped annoying the rich jews in snell island
Why the black fingernails?
He's gay