NTSB A-17-12 / 13 Safety Recommendations Steering Committee
On March 28, 2017 the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued their findings on the July 3, 2015 crash of the Air Methods AS350 B3e helicopter in Frisco, Colorado. For full report see link below. As part of those recommendations the NTSB asked the Association of Critical Care Transport (ACCT), in collaboration with the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) and the Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA), to establish a working group to develop and distribute guidelines, for those that purchase, lease, and contract for helicopters, regarding the equipment and systems that would enhance the helicopters’ crashworthiness, including, at a minimum, a crash-resistant fuel system and energy-absorbing seats.
Frank Erdman, the Chair of ACCT and the Critical Care Transport Manager of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, appointed Tom Judge, ACCT Board Member and the CEO of Life Flight of Maine to chair the committee. Also named to the committee were Robbie Tester, Vice President of Operations at LIFE FORCE at the Erlanger Health System; Greg Hildenbrand, ACCT Board Member and the CEO of Life Star of Kansas; Chris Eastlee, Vice President of Government Relations for AAMS; and Ed Stockhausen, AMOA President and Director of Safety for Metro Aviation. Chris Zalar, Partner with Fitch and Associates, provides senior staff support and management services and Edward Eroe, Treasurer of ACCT and President & CEO of Life Link III, is responsible to manage external communications regarding the committee’s work.
Documents
NTSB – White Paper – June, 2017
Resource Materials
FAA SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN Regarding Fuel Systems – 13-October-2017
Rotorcraft Occupant Protection Working Group – Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee March 2016
NTSB – Safety Recommendations – October, 1985
DOT Report – A Study of Helicopter Crash-Resistant Fuel Systems – February, 2002
NTSB Safety Recommendation – July, 2015