Helicopter crashes, explodes in flames on hospital roof

[Scaramedic]

Well at least Dr Romano wasn't killed this time. Glad everyone is OK. I've always found roof pads disconcerting for this very reason, yet I understand for many hospitals there is no choice.

[EMT City Administrator]

Pics: http://www.wzzm13.com/hospitalcrash/index.htm

[firedoc5]

Thank God everyone was OK. Was it a permanent standing antennae? Mentioned there was a crane around, was it on it? I don't have time right now to go to the media links.

That's one thing we practiced a lot when they changed the landing zone (LZ) from a parking lot to a roof area, way back when.

[picklejuice]

Thanks for the update. I talked with some buddies of my today that fly on aircare here in Jackson MS and the brought up a good question, what was the tower doing that close to the pad.

I got the 'inside' on this. The pilot was a 16 year veteran with AeroMed. He was not training. Every certain amount of years, the F.A.A. has to do inspections on the helicoptors. This was an inspection flight. There is a lot of construction in downtown Grand Rapids and the pilots can not fly straight in because of a crane that is near. They must go over the crane and come straight down from that position. Apparently when he was landing, the tail rotor clipped the radio antenna and when the coptor began to spin, the pilot purposely dived toward the roof to avoid landing in the street and killing other people, in turn causing the explosion. The pilot is in stable condition at this time, with a few tubes going into his body and I'm not sure about the F.A.A. member except I know he's alive and well.

[Scaramedic]

Same thing almost happened in Tulsa. St John's was building their new tower and had construction cranes up. One was near the old tower and the pad. An out of state crew not knowing about the cranes almost hit one coming in. Very scary.

[CBEMT]

Maybe next time they'll do it right and have an automatic fire suppression system.

[Xnekal]

The ER (the largest in most of Michigan and the only Level 1 in Western MI)

Don't forget about K-Zoo - Both of them advertise they are Level 1

I was working and ended up watching it online at the station, Glad that everyone was OK and no major injuries...

[sledogg1]

Thats where I did my hospital time when I went though EMT-P school at Davenport University in 95-96........wow.....glad that eneryone is ok.

[robert gift]

Is (was) the radio tower too close and would be better located further away?

Any news as to why the tail hit the tower?

Thanks.