Medical Transport Clips Pole on Landing

Eurocopter AS 350B2 Ecureuil, Loris, S.C., July 2, 2009–The AS 350 suffered substantial damage while landing to pick up a patient at a hospital helipad. The tail rotor struck a steel pole, causing vibration and forcing the pilot to land immediately and shut down. According to a report from the FAA inspector on the scene, despite the fact that the pilot and the two clinicians on board had all been to the heliport in the past, they simply forgot about the poles adjacent to the landing area. There were no injuries in the accident but the helicopter suffered damage to the tail rotor, main rotor, horizontal stabilizer and tail boom. The helicopter was operated by Omniflight.