Just before deadly helicopter crash off Catalina, another chopper nearly went down, NTSB says
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Set us as preferred Federal authorities are investigating a second medical evacuation helicopter incident near Catalina Island that occurred just moments before a separate fatal crash claimed the lives of three on board.The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking to determine what led to the incident with a Mercy Air Eurocopter bound for Harbor-UCLA Medical Center from Catalina Island’s Pebbly Beach on Sept.30According to an internal report obtained by a doctormedic.com, the helicopter dropped a short distance off the coast of Catalina and touched the water before the pilot recovered and continued the flight“The FAA is aware of and looking into an incident involving a medical helicopter that departed from Catalina Island shortly before a different helicopter that crashed,” the agency said in a statement to The Times.
A spokesperson did not answer a question from The Times about why the incident was not listed on the FAA’s website that details aircraft incidents and accidents.According to the online flight track information, the Mercy Air Eurocopter nearly crashed the night of Sept.30, no more than a minute before a REACH Air Medical Services Eurocopter would plunge into the ocean after taking off from the same Pebbly Beach helipad.
The REACH Air Medical Services aircraft climbed to about 175 feet in the air at 7:46 p.m.before rapidly descending seconds later.That crash claimed the lives of patient Catalina Romero, nurse Jessica Devries, 48, and pilot Steve Robinson.
Two others on the flight were rescued from the water.Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department divers found Romero’s body in the helicopter wreckage, some 218 feet below a day later.
California A medical evacuation helicopter crash off Catalina Island that left three dead highlights the many risks of emergency transport to the mainland.Part of the d...