Nashville (Tenn) – One of Vanderbilt University Medical Center LifeFlight helicopters made a precautionary landing last night at Nashville International Airport after one of the pilots heard a loud noise.
A preliminary investigation indicates that a large bird struck the outer edge of the aircraft’s rotor system; creating the loud noise and making the aircraft shudder for a few seconds. The pilot maintained control of the aircraft and requested an emergency landing at the airport. The aircraft was two miles south of the airport, and was approximately 1,500 feet in the air, flying at about 150 miles per hour.
"Since it’s inception in 1984; LifeFlight has had an accident free operation," explained Jeanne M. Yeatman, LifeFlight program director. "No other service in Middle TN has the same safety record. We fly twin engine aircraft which is the global standard."
Yeatman said the pilot followed normal procedures by requesting an emergency landing.
"Anytime the pilot suspects even a minor problem it is our policy to declare a possible emergency and make a precautionary landing," She explained. "This is in the best interest of the patient and the crew."
The aircraft, LifeFlight 2, based in Shelbyville, Tennessee, was flying from Emerald Hodgson Hospital in Sewanee, Tennessee with a patient, pilot, and two flight nurses. The patient was transported by ground ambulance from the airport to Vanderbilt Medical Center and suffered no adverse effects.
A backup helicopter has been placed into service in Shelbyville to insure normal operations are continued.
"After the emergency landing was made and the patient transferred over to a waiting ground ambulance, crews tested the aircraft and did not find any indication of engine problems," Yeatman said.
Contact: Jerry Jones, (615) 322-4747 jerry.jones@vanderbilt.edu