UPDATED Tuesday, September 1, 2009 --- 12:35 p.m.

By JOAN LOWY and BRETT J. BLACKLEDGE
Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The National Transportation Safety Board wants better training and more sophisticated equipment for medical helicopters, and recommends limiting Medicare payments for emergency flights to operators who meet new safety standards.

The NTSB board approved recommendations Tuesday for the Federal Aviation Administration to require operators of helicopters flown for emergency medical services to, among other things, install automatic pilots, terrain awareness monitors and night-vision systems. The board also agreed to develop recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services to provide Medicare payments only to emergency helicopter operators who pass safety audits.

The board's action comes in response to a record nine fatal emergency helicopter crashes in which 35 people died between December 2007 and October 2008.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Tuesday, January 20, 2009 --- 9:25 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The pilot in a fatal helicopter crash near La Crosse couldn't use instruments to navigate through the fog because his company hadn't certified him to do so.

University of Wisconsin Hospital Med Flight pilot Steve Lipperer was using visual flight rules when the helicopter crashed into hilly terrain in May, killing Lipperer, a doctor and a nurse.

Wisconsin Aviation president Jeff Baum says the finding is important because many pilots would have used instruments during the foggy conditions that night. He says that would have been a safer method of flight.

Denver-based Air Methods leased the helicopter to UW for the program. Its spokesman Craig Yale says the conditions that night allowed for visual navigation.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Thursday, January 15, 2009 --- 5:20 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Fog may have contributed to the fatal crash of a University of Wisconsin Med Flight helicopter last year.

Documents released today say two medical helicopter crews in the area told federal safety investigators they declined to fly on the evening of May 10 because of poor weather.

One pilot says he noticed fog forming on bluffs near the Mississippi River during an earlier flight.

The UW Med Flight helicopter crashed into hilly terrain after leaving the La Crosse airport. The crash killed pilot Steve Lipperer, nurse Mark Coyne and doctor Darren Bean.

Air Methods operated the UW Med Flight craft. Its spokesman says the weather was "legal and safe" at the time of the flight.

Federal investigators have not identified a probable cause of the crash.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Thursday, January 15, 2009 --- 3:50 p.m.

*UW Health Statement on NTSB Report on Med Flight Crash*

MADISON-The National Transportation Safety Board ( NTSB) this morning released a series of documents related to the May crash of one of UW Health’s Med Flight helicopters. Although the NTSB review process is far from complete, UW Health and Med Flight leadership are reviewing all of the reports in detail. We concur with the many comments from physicians, nurses and pilots that Med Flight has been a leader in both the level of medical care provided and the precise attention to maintenance and training.

This series of documents does not, however, identify a probable cause of the crash. We hope that the final report to be released in the coming months will shed more light on that issue.

The Med Flight crash was a deeply traumatic event for the entire UW Health family, most particularly those who were part of the Med Flight operation. As is common after such tragedies, the stress of the event led some personnel to leave the program and move into different roles within UW Health. All pilots, dispatchers, most nurse and flight physicians have stayed with the program, But 6 physicians have opted not to fly – some citing family considerations.

As expected, the number of flights in calendar year 2008 was fewer than in the previous year by approximately 300. However, despite the setback that resulted in Med Flight not operating for approximately two weeks after the crash, the program still reported 1078 flights for calendar year 2008. Med Flight has flown a total of 745 flights from the time of service resumption to today. If present trends continue, the Med Flight air service will be very close to the number of flights logged in the year immediately before the May crash.

UW Health is well aware that this tragic accident continues to be of interest both to our own employees and to the public. Please be assured that every effort will be made to keep you informed of results from the NTSB investigation as it progresses.

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UPDATED Thursday, January 15, 2009 --- 10:20 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A new report says the National Transportation Safety Board has not found a cause for a University of Wisconsin medical helicopter crash near La Crosse last year.

The helicopter crashed May 10 in a hilly, wooded area shortly after taking off from the La Crosse airport. The crew was returning to Madison after dropping an 86-year-old patient off at a hospital in La Crosse.

All three members of the crew were killed, and the patient died hours later.

The National Transportation Safety Board says it has not found a probable cause of the crash. The board released hundreds of documents related to its investigation on Thursday.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Note: Madison.com is reporting the fuel access panel may not have been properly locked. The NTSB records did not indicate if the fuel access panel was significant in the crash. Click HERE to read online article

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UPDATED Thursday, January 15, 2009 --- 9:15 a.m.

The Report from the NTSB:

The following is an INTERIM FACTUAL SUMMARY of this accident investigation. A final report that includes all pertinent facts, conditions, and circumstances of the accident will be issued upon completion, along with the Safety Board's analysis and probable cause of the accident.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On May 10, 2008, about 2245 central daylight time, a Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH EC 135 T2+ air medical configured helicopter, N135UW, operated by Air Methods Corporation, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain near La Crosse, Wisconsin. The flight was conducted in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, physician and flight nurse sustained fatal injuries. The flight departed La Crosse Municipal Airport (LSE), La Crosse, Wisconsin, at 2234. The intended destination was the University of Wisconsin Hospital heliport (WS27) in Madison, Wisconsin.

The helicopter was equipped with global positioning system (GPS) tracking equipment that provided departure, arrival and en route position information to the operator’s Operations Control Center. Flight progress was automatically updated approximately every three minutes. According the GPS flight-following data, the flight initially departed WS27 about 2038 en route to Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The flight arrived there about 2113 and picked up a patient. The flight subsequently departed about 2131 and proceeded to Gunderson-Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, arriving about 2154. After dropping off the patient, the crew departed about 2209 and repositioned the helicopter to LSE for refueling. The flight departed LSE at 2234 with the intention of returning to WS27. No further position updates were received from the accident helicopter.

The line service technician who fueled the aircraft noted that when it departed it lifted off vertically and proceeded east-southeast. He added that there was a low ceiling, fair visibility and moderate rain at the time.

A witness located approximately 4.2 miles east-southeast of LSE reported hearing a helicopter fly over about 2230. He was in a restaurant parking lot getting into his car at the time. He noted that it sounded like Medlink helicopter. He reported that it was "traveling at a high rate of speed, and was flying low." He recalled thinking that it wasn’t going to clear the bluffs.

A resident contacted the La Crosse County Sheriff's Office about 2240 and stated that he heard a helicopter flying overhead, when the sound of the engine disappeared followed by a loud crashing sound. Local authorities initiated a search at that time.

At 2304, the helicopter operator notified local authorities that the helicopter was missing. The helicopter wreckage was subsequently located about 0826 the next morning. Fire department personnel reported fog and mist along the ridgeline during the night.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a Commercial Pilot certificate with single and multi-engine land airplane, helicopter, instrument airplane, and instrument helicopter ratings. He was issued a Second-Class Airman Medical certificate on July 14, 2007, with a limitation for corrective lenses. The pilot also held a Mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings.

The pilot's logbook was not available for review by the NTSB. A flight experience summary completed by the accident pilot on January 21, 2008, indicated a total flight time of 3,950 hours, with 2,698 hours of that total in helicopters. He indicated night flight time of 545 hours and instrument flight time of 216 hours. He had accumulated 70 hours of flight time in EC135 helicopters at that time. Duty time records indicated that in the 30-day period prior to the accident, the pilot had flown 17.0 hours. Of that total, 5.8 hours were at night.

The accident pilot was hired by CJ Systems on March 1, 2001. CJ Systems operated the University of Wisconsin Med Flight program at that time. During his tenure as a mechanic, he reportedly also acted as a pilot on maintenance test flights. He transferred to a full-time pilot position on December 1, 2005. Air Methods Corporation purchased CJ Systems in March 2008, and the Madison-based pilots were transferred to Air Methods.

At the time of the transition to Air Methods, the pilots were provided a complete training program under the Air Methods operating certificate. Records indicated that the accident pilot completed basic indoctrination for Air Methods and EC-135 helicopter specific ground training in January 2008. He completed further training related to aeronautical knowledge and EC135P2 helicopter specific knowledge between February 2008 and April 2008. On March 10th and 11th, 2008, the accident pilot completed 3.5 hours flight training in an EC135T2+ helicopter. According to company records, he subsequently passed Part 135 Competency and Line Checks on March 11, 2008. An instrument proficiency check was not completed at that time.

According to company personnel, due to the high training demand resulting from the transition to the Air Methods certificate, all pilots were initially qualified as VFR-only. IFR proficiency checks were planned as recurrent training. As a result the accident pilot was limited to VFR-only operations at the time of the accident. According to a training pilot, the accident pilot was proficient and current for IFR operations under the previous CJ Systems operating certificate.

There were two flights on record to the La Crosse area for the accident pilot between January 1, 2007, and the day of the accident. On March 7, 2008, the pilot had transported a patient from Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital to Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse. The second was the flight prior to the accident flight.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The accident aircraft was a 2007 Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH EC135T2+ helicopter, serial number 0535. The helicopter was powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 turboshaft engines. The helicopter was certificated under FAA type certificate H88EU, and issued a standard airworthiness certificate on March 14, 2007. The aircraft had accumulated 456.7 hours total flight time as of the day of the accident. Both engines had accumulated the same amount of time. In the 30-day period prior to the accident, the helicopter accumulated 39.8 hours.

The aircraft was maintained under an FAA Approved Aircraft Inspection Program (AAIP). A routine airworthiness check was completed on the day of the accident with no discrepancies noted. According to the operator’s records, the most recent inspection procedure was a 400-Hour inspection completed on March 17, 2008, at 386.1 hours airframe total time.

A 12-Month inspection and a 100-Hour Supplementary inspection were completed on February 26, 2008, at 375.7 hours total airframe time. Altimeter and pitot static system inspections were also completed at that time. During those inspections, a crack was observed in the upper and lower skins of one of the main rotor blades. The blade was subsequently replaced.

The maintenance records noted that on April 16, 2008, the helicopter fell off a tug damaging the landing light and the electrical cannon plug. The damage was subsequently repaired and the aircraft returned to service. With the exception of an inoperative landing light, there were no further discrepancies recorded in the aircraft maintenance records within the 90-day period prior to the accident.

At the time of the accident, the helicopter was equipped with a radar altimeter. It was not equipped, nor was it required to be equipped, with a terrain awareness warning system (TAWS).

METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS

The National Weather Service (NWS) Surface Analysis Chart valid at 2200 depicted a low pressure system to the south of the accident site over northern Missouri, with an occluded front extending southward from that low. Several low-pressure troughs extended north and northeastward across Iowa and into northwestern Illinois. A second low-pressure system was located over south-central Minnesota, with a stationary front extending north-northeast through Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.

The NWS Weather Depiction Chart for 2300 depicted an area of instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions over southern Minnesota and portions of Iowa. Surrounding the area of IFR conditions was an area of marginal visual flight rules (MVFR) conditions that included most of Minnesota, Iowa and western Wisconsin and Illinois. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions extended over central and eastern Wisconsin and Illinois. The intended route of flight, the accident site, and the destination were in the area of MVFR conditions.

IFR conditions are defined as ceilings (broken or overcast cloud layers) below 1,000 feet above ground level (agl) and/or visibilities less than 3 statute miles. MVFR conditions are defined as ceilings between 1,000 feet agl and 3,000 feet agl, and/or visibilities between 3 and 5 miles inclusive. VFR conditions are defined as ceilings above 3,000 feet agl and visibilities greater then 5 miles.

The closest weather reporting facility to the accident site was at LaCrosse Municipal Airport (LSE). LSE was located approximately 5 miles northwest of the accident site. At 2153, the LSE Automated Surface Observations System (ASOS) recorded weather conditions as: Calm winds; 4 miles visibility in light rain and mist; scattered clouds at 1,300 feet agl; overcast clouds at 3,500 feet agl; temperature 10 degrees Celsius; dew point 8 degrees Celsius; and altimeter 29.72 inches of mercury.

At 2253, the LSE ASOS recorded conditions as: Calm winds; 8 miles visibility in light rain; few clouds at 1,400 feet agl; overcast clouds at 5,000 feet agl; temperature 10 degrees Celsius; dew point 8 degrees Celsius; and altimeter 29.70 inches of mercury.

The Area Forecast for southwest Wisconsin issued at 2045 and valid until 0900 the following morning, was for overcast clouds at 6,000 feet agl, with cloud tops to 15,000 feet mean sea level (msl). From 2400, conditions were forecast to be 2,000 feet agl, and visibilities of 3 to 5 miles in light rain and mist. After 0900, the extended outlook consisted of MVFR conditions due to low ceilings and visibilities restricted by rain, with winds over 25 knots.

No Significant Meteorological Information advisories (SIGMETs), Convective SIGMETs, or Severe Weather Forecast Alerts were current over Wisconsin at the time of the accident. However, Airmen's Meteorological Information (AIRMET) Sierra was issued at 2145 and was valid until 0400 the following morning. It warned of possible IFR conditions along the route of flight.

The LSE Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) issued at 1830 called for: Winds from 130 degrees at 7 knots; visibility greater then 6 miles in light rain; scattered clouds at 3,500 feet agl; and an overcast ceiling at 5,000 feet agl. At 2400, conditions were expected to be: Winds from 020 at 6 knots; visibility 5 miles in light rain and mist; and an overcast cloud ceiling at 2,500 feet agl.

The pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing beginning at 2117 for the route from Prairie du Chein to LaCrosse and back to Madison. The briefer provided a synopsis of current and forecast conditions. He indicated that deteriorating weather conditions were expected after 2200 with IFR conditions possible. The briefer informed the pilot of AIRMET Sierra update 7, issued at 1545 and valid until 2200, warning of IFR conditions southwest of a line from Minneapolis to Bradford, Illinois (BDF). The accident site was located approximately 35 miles northeast of this boundary.

An EMS pilot operating in the area that evening reported that he departed La Crosse at 2024 en route to Arcadia, Wisconsin. He stated that fog was beginning to form on the east side of the Mississippi River. Fog was also beginning to form on the bluffs to the east of his route of flight. He subsequently returned to La Crosse about 2115. He declined at least one additional flight request that evening due to deteriorating weather conditions.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

La Crosse Municipal Airport (KLSE) was located on French Island on the Mississippi River near La Crosse, Wisconsin. The airport elevation was 656 feet. Bluffs rose to approximately 1,200 feet mean sea level on both the east and west sides of the river.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The accident helicopter impacted trees along a wooded ridgeline in a sparsely populated area approximately 4.5 miles southeast of LSE. Tree strikes and main rotor blade fragments were observed at the top of the ridgeline. The right landing skid separated from the airframe at the top of the ridge. The elevation of the ridge in the vicinity of the tree strikes was approximately 1,164 feet. The trees were estimated to be 50 to 60 feet in height, and the tree strikes were approximately 50 to 55 feet above the level of the ridge.

The main wreckage came to rest on a descending hillside, east of the ridgeline. This was on the opposite side of the ridgeline from the departure airport. The helicopter came to rest about 600 feet from the initial tree strikes at the top of the ridgeline, at an elevation of approximately 928 feet. The tail boom and Fenestron (tail rotor) separated from the fuselage. It came to rest about 20 feet from the main wreckage.

The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage (cockpit and cabin areas), the engines, main rotor transmission, rotor mast and rotor blades. The cockpit and cabin areas were completely compromised. The engines exhibited damage consistent with impact forces. The main rotor blades remained attached to the rotor mast; however, the blades were fragmented. The swash plate and pitch change links appeared intact. The transmission exhibited continuity through the assembly when rotated. The flight control servos remained secured to the airframe. The flight control rods between the servos and the cockpit controls were fragmented. The tail boom and Fenestron were fragmented. No anomalies consistent with a pre impact failure were observed.

A teardown inspection of the engines was conducted at the manufacturer's facility under direct supervision of the NTSB. Both engines exhibited damage consistent with impact forces. The compressor and turbine sections of both engines exhibited scoring and scrape markings consistent with rotation at impact. The left engine turbine blades had all sheared at the blade roots. However, examination of the fracture surfaces revealed features consistent with overstress failure. No evidence of pre-existing cracking was observed on any of the blade fractures. No anomalies consistent with pre impact failures were observed during the inspections.

The DC power/engine control panel remained with the instrument panel. However, the instrument panel was dislodged from its normal installed position in the cockpit. The left (ENG 1) main selector switch was in the IDLE position when observed at the accident site. The switch guard was engaged. The right (ENG 2) main switch was in the FLIGHT position when observed at the accident site. Both FADEC control switches were in the ON position. The main engine selector switch detents functioned properly when examined after the accident. The Engine Mode Selector switches on the overhead panel were in the NORM position and the switch guards were engaged.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy of the pilot was performed at the Regina Medical Center in Hastings, Minnesota, on May 12, 2008. The report noted multiple traumatic injuries due to a helicopter crash.

A Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report was prepared by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute. The results were negative for all substances tested.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

The Digital Engine Control Units (DECUs) were examined by the component manufacturer under supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration. Retained (non-volatile) memory was recovered successfully from each unit. The left and right engine DECU total operating times were 516.3 hours and 389.9 hours, respectively. Both units had been powered-up (battery power on) for 408 seconds (6.8 minutes) at the time the most recent anomalies were recorded. No anomalies had been recorded during the previous 80 hours of DECU operation.

The most recent anomalies consisted of an overspeed event recorded by the right engine DECU, and a maintenance event recorded by the left engine DECU. Both blocks were recorded at 408 seconds (6.8 minutes). At the time of the overspeed event, the right engine turbine speed (N2) was 117.69 percent. At the time of the maintenance event, the left engine turbine speed (N2) was 117.81 percent. Both DECUs were in Flight Mode at the time the events were recorded. No faults were recorded subsequent to the overspeed and maintenance events. This was consistent with both DECUs ceasing to function at that point.

In normal operation, detection of an overspeed condition automatically results in the engine being shut down by the DECU. In order to prevent both engines from being shut down automatically, a cross-inhibit function subsequently deactivates the overspeed protection for the remaining engine. An Overspeed Block is recorded by the DECU associated with the engine experiencing the overspeed condition. The DECU associated with the remaining engine records a Maintenance Block at the point overspeed protection is deactivated.

The Vehicle Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD) and the Caution Advisory Display (CAD) installed in the accident helicopter were downloaded. The flight duration recorded by the VEMD was 2 minutes 53 seconds. However, flight duration data was only updated every 80 seconds implying an actual flight time of at least 2 minutes 53 seconds, and not longer than 4 minutes 13 seconds. (The VEMD recorded flight time based on collective position, as opposed to operation or power-up time, as in the case of the DECUs.)

The VEMD recorded 8 fault messages between 3 minutes 20.0 seconds and 3 minutes 24.5 seconds flight duration. The initial faults were associated with a loss of reliable torque, static pressure, and outside air temperature data. At that time, the recorded left and right engine compressor and turbine speeds were about 88 percent and 90 percent, respectively. At 3 minutes 24.0 seconds, the VEMD interpreted an engine control unit (DECU) failure. At 3 minutes 24.5 seconds, the VEMD declared an engine control unit (DECU) link failure.

The CAD recorded a single fault message at 3 minutes 24 seconds. The message was related to a deviation in the fuel tank sensor power supply.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The operator's General Operations Manual (GOM) provided minimum weather and altitude requirements for flight operations. VFR flight was to be conducted no less than 300 feet agl for day operations, and 500 feet agl for night operations. Weather minimums required by the GOM consisted of an 800-foot ceiling and 3 miles visibility for day operations, and a 1,000-foot ceiling and 5 miles visibility for night operations.

OTHER INFORMATION

The weather conditions near the accident site about the time of the accident were recorded to be: Calm winds; 8 miles visibility in light rain; few clouds at 1,400 feet above ground level (agl); overcast clouds at 5,000 feet agl; temperature 10 degrees Celsius; dew point 8 degrees Celsius; and altimeter 29.70 inches of mercury. Dark night conditions prevailed. The helicopter was not equipped with a terrain awareness warning system (TAWS). The pilot was not utilizing a night vision imaging system (NVIS) during the flight. A radar altimeter was installed on the helicopter, and it was normally set to 500 feet for night flight. The accident flight was being tracked by a flight following program, and did receive flight dispatch services prior to the initiation of the flight. Additionally, a formal flight risk assessment was performed prior to the flight.

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UPDATED Tuesday, January 13, 2009 --- 3:20 p.m.

As part of its continuing investigations into nine helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) accidents the National Transportation Safety Board will open public dockets on Thursday, January 15, 2009, at 10:00 am.

This includes:
* On May 10, 2008, a Eurocopter EC 135 T2+ EMS helicopter, N135UW, operated by Air Methods Corporation, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain near La Crosse, Wisconsin. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, physician and flight nurse sustained fatal injuries.

In other developments:

(from the NTSB website):
The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a 4-day public hearing on the safety of helicopter emergency medical services (EMS) operations beginning on Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. The hearing will be open to the public and will take place in the Board Room and Conference Center at 429 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. This hearing will also be telecast on the Board’s website (www.ntsb.gov). In addition, the Board is requesting submissions from the EMS community of materials related to aviation safety to be part of a public docket used in support of the hearing.

The goal of the upcoming hearing is for the Safety Board to learn more about helicopter EMS operations so that it can better evaluate the factors that lead to accidents. The Board will invite expert witnesses to provide sworn testimony. The majority of these witnesses will participate as part of small panels addressing particular safety issues. Additionally, several organizations will be granted “party status” to the hearing so that they may question the witnesses directly. The witnesses and parties will represent a range of EMS-related communities, including pilots, medical personnel, managers, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials who provide oversight.

Helicopter EMS operations provide an important service to the public by transporting seriously ill patients or donor organs to emergency care facilities. The pressure to conduct these operations safely and quickly in all conditions, including during inclement weather, at night, and on unfamiliar landing sites, has the potential to increase EMS operational risk compared to normal passenger-carrying aviation operations.

Helicopter EMS safety has been an ongoing concern of the Safety Board. In January 2006, the Board issued a special investigation report on EMS operations. Many of the 55 EMS-related aviation accidents (fatal and non-fatal) that occurred between January 2002 and January 2005 could have been prevented with simple corrective actions, including oversight, flight risk evaluations, improved dispatch procedures, and the incorporation of available technologies. As a result, the Board issued four safety recommendations to the FAA, which have not yet been fully implemented. The complete report and recommendations can be found online at www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2006/SIR0601.pdf.

Over the past 12 months, the Safety Board has investigated an additional nine fatal EMS accidents, which killed 35 people. This drastic increase in fatalities prompted the Board to hold this public hearing. "We have seen an alarming rise in the numbers of EMS accidents, and the Safety Board believes some of these accidents could have been prevented if our recommendations had been implemented," said Member Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the hearing’s Board of Inquiry. "This hearing will be extremely important because it can provide an opportunity to learn more about the industry so that possibly we can make further recommendations that can prevent these accidents and save lives."

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Friday, May 30, 2008 --- 1:45 p.m.

MADISON, Wis — Beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, UW Hospital and Clinics’ Med Flight service will resume 24-hour service operation.

According to a news release from UW Health Public Affairs, Med Flight will staff the helicopter in two shifts: one from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the other from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

For the last week, Med Flight has been performing air medical transport between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

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Thursday, May 22, 2008 --- 12:00 p.m.

MADISON- UW Med Flight will resume patient flights on Friday, May 23 at 9:00 a.m., just under two weeks after a crash that killed flight physician Darren Bean, flight nurse Mark Coyne and pilot Steve Lipperer.

“No one wants to get back in the air more than the dedicated members of our Med Flight crew. They are passionate about what they do,” said Bruce Lindsay, MD, medical director of Med Flight.

The decision to resume the service that has been in existence for 23 years came after three days of “confidence flight” for Med Flight staff.

Lindsay says the service will initially operate 12 hours a day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“Those hours are peak hours for Med Flight calls. And we felt it was extremely important to resume patient flights for the busy Memorial Day weekend,” said Lindsay.

Calls that come in from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. will be handled as they would if Med Flight was already out on a flight. A network of hospitals around the state routinely backs up Med Flight when the helicopter is on another patient transport. Lindsay says in addition to the pilot, a flight physician and nurse will staff every flight, the routine protocol for Med Flight.

The service will fly with one helicopter until the second aircraft can be replaced by Air Methods of Denver, the company that contracts with UW Health for Med Flight services.

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Thursday, May 22, 2008 --- 11:30 a.m.

UW Hospital announced Thursday morning it will resume med flight services Friday.

Med flights were grounded more than a week ago after 3 medical staff members died in a crash near La Crosse.

Killed were Dr. Darren Bean, nurse Mark Coyne and pilot Steve Lipperer.

A preliminary report on the crash was released yesterday, but no cause was cited. The NTSB says a final report could take upwards of 6 months to a year.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2008 --- 9:30 a.m.

A preliminary investigation was unable to pinpoint a cause of the fatal Med Flight cash that killed three men near La Crosse May 10. The helicopter was destroyed during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the helicopter was equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) tracking equipment that provided departure, arrival and en route position information to the operator's Operations Control Center. Flight progress was automatically updated every three minutes. According to the GPS flight-following data, the flight stopped for refueling and no further position updates were received after that.

Local authorities received a 911 call from a resident stating they thought they had heard an aircraft crash. Around 11 p.m., the helicopter operator notified local authorities that the aircraft was missing. A search subsequently located the helicopter wreckage about 9 a.m. the next morning.

The accident site was located on a wooded hillside in a sparsely populated area approximately 4 1/2 miles southeast of La Crosse. At the time the helicopter left after refueling, moderate rain and fair visibility was reported.

Killed in the crash were Dr. Darren Bean, 37; nurse Mark Coyne, 53; and pilot Steve Lipperer, 39.

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UPDATE: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 --- 3:45 p.m.

MADISON - Med Flight staff members began confidence flights Tuesday at 1 p.m.

The 10 to 15 minute flights will be available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to staff members who would like to fly before regular patient service resumes. The confidence flights are available to Med Flight pilots, registered nurses,physicians, dispatchers, emergency medicine residents and administration.

This is another step in resuming Med Flight service as soon as possible. There is no final decision on when patient flights will resume.

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UPDATE: Thursday, May 15, 2008 --- 10:45am

Traffic and Parking Restrictions for Memorial Service:

Traffic and parking in the following areas will be affected by tonight’s memorial service for Dr. Darren Bean and pilot Steve Lipperer:

• No Parking on East Wilson Street between King Street and South Hamilton Street from 1:00 PM to approximately 8:30 PM.

• Due to a large number of emergency vehicles and funeral vehicles, expect traffic delays in the area of the Monona Terrace Convention Center between the times of 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

Family members have asked that the media not attend. NBC 15 will respect those wishes.

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UPDATED Wednesday, May 14 --- 3:45pm

There have been a number of questions surrounding gifts in memory of the Med Flight crew.

While it was announced initially a fund had been established at the US Foundation for the three victims, that is not the case.

Instead, Dr. Bean's family is asking any memorials go to a scholarship fund for Dr. Bean's two children.

Scholarship Fund:
Goldstein, Petrowski & Assoc
Ameriprise Financial
1110 Fourier Drive
Madison, WI 53717
Make checks payable to:
Tomorrow's Scholar
Memo line: write "Benefit Caitlyn & Parker Bean"

Pilot Steve Lipperer's family is asking all gifts be made in his honor to the Dane County Humane Society.

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UPDATED Wednesday, May 14 --- 7:25 am

A memorial service for the nurse killed in the UW Med Flight crash will be held next week.

The service for Mark Coyne will be held Monday, May 19 at 5 pm at Crossroads Church (3815 S. Dutch Mill Road, Madison).

A memorial service will be held this Thursday to honor Dr. Darren Bean and pilot Steven Lipperer. It will be held on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Monona Terrace.

Family members have asked that the media not attend. NBC 15 will respect those wishes.

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UPDATED Tuesday, May 13 --- 5:25 pm

The Wisconsin State Journal reported Tuesday that a faulty altitude detector was a contributing factor in a fatal crash of the same kind of helicopter owned by the same company as the Med Flight chopper that crashed Saturday night near La Crosse.

The same safety board investigating the UW Hospital Med Flight crash that killed its crew of three, said a faulty radar altimeter contributed to the crash of a Eurocopter EC315 helicopter in Washington, D.C., in January 2005.

That helicopter, like UW's that crashed, was owned by Denver-based Air Methods.

A radar altimeter measures the distance above ground, while a regular altimeter measures the distance above sea level.

Air Methods spokesman Craig Yale said Tuesday that the helicopter it leased to Med Flight that crashed Saturday almost certainly had a working radar altimeter.

Wisconsin State Journal Article

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UPDATED Tuesday, May 13 --- 11:15 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A coroner says the patient transported by a Med Flight helicopter that later crashed died after arriving at a hospital in La Crosse.

Crawford County Coroner Joe Morovitz says the elderly woman died early Sunday after suffering bleeding in her brain.

He says the woman had been transferred from a hospital in Prairie Du Chien to Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse by the UW Hospital Med Flight helicopter.

The helicopter crashed on the way home to Madison after dropping the woman off in La Crosse. A surgeon, nurse and pilot on board were killed.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATE Posted Tuesday, May 13 --- 8:30am

A medical helicopter from the University of Wisconsin-Madison was filling in for one from a La Crosse hospital last weekend when it crashed on its return flight to Madison, killing all three people aboard.

UW-Madison spokesman Don Cady says the UW's leased helicopter was sent to Prairie du Chien about 8:30 p.m. Saturday to transport a patient to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse because that hospital's helicopter was responding to another emergency.

After transporting the patient, the UW's helicopter refueled at the La Crosse airport about 10:30 p.m. and left for Madison but crashed on a bluff moments later. The wreckage was found Sunday.

Gundersen Lutheran's Med Link helicopter had responded Saturday evening to a three-vehicle traffic crash in Arcadia that killed an Arcadia couple and injured three others.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATE Posted Monday, May 12 --- 5:45pm

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Workers at UW Hospital observed a moment of silence this afternoon to reflect on the loss of three colleagues killed when their medical helicopter crashed.

Hospital spokeswoman Toni Morrissey says workers are considering how to permanently memorialize surgeon Darren Bean, nurse Mark Coyne and pilot Steve Lipperer.

The three died Saturday night when their helicopter crashed on a return flight from La Crosse, where they had taken a patient to a hospital.

Authorities have said the helicopter appeared to strike a hill or trees shortly after taking off from the La Crosse airport. The National Transportation Safety Board was on the scene investigating the cause today.

Morrissey says well wishes are coming in from around the world and the UW Foundation has set up a fund for donations.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATE Posted Monday, May 12 --- 11:50am

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A company spokesman says the medical helicopter that crashed in Wisconsin did not have two pieces of safety equipment recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Mike Allen, senior vice president at Denver-based Air Methods, says the helicopter was not equipped with a computerized voice system to warn of approaching terrain or night vision goggles for the pilot.

The University of Wisconsin Hospital Med Flight helicopter crashed after dropping off a patient in La Crosse. Officials say it appeared the craft struck a hill or trees shortly after taking off, killing a surgeon, nurse and pilot.

The NTSB recommended night vision goggles and the warning system in a 2006 report that suggested many fatal EMS flights could be prevented.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved

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UPDATE Posted Monday, May 12 --- 9:15am

Share Your Condolences and Personal Memories

To express your condolences or share your memories of the Med Flight crew members killed in the helicopter crash near La Crosse, please click on the above link. It will link you to a special tribute, created by UW Health.

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UPDATE Posted Monday, May 12 --- 8:10am

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The National Transportation Safety Board said today it has an investigator on the scene of a fatal medical helicopter crash in the town of Onalaska.

The work now begins to determine what caused the crash of a UW Hospital Med Flight late Saturday that killed all three on board.

They include surgeon Darren Bean, nurse Mark Coyne and pilot Steve Lipperer. They had just dropped off a patient at a hospital in La Crosse shortly before crashing.

The wreckage was found yesterday. UW Hospital executive Margaret Van Bree says it appears to have struck a hill or some trees.

Lipperer's father, Raymond Lipperer, of Johnson Creek, said his son had always wanted to fly. He was a contract employee for the hospital system since 2000.

Bean had been a Med Flight physician for the hospital system in 2002.

Coyne was a 22-year veteran of the Med Flight system and had worked for the hospital since 1981.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATE Posted: Sunday, May 11 -- 9:15pm

**MED FLIGHT TIMELINE**

Saturday, 8:30pm: UW Hospital officials say the Med Flight crew left Madison, en route to Prairie du Chien to transport a patient there to a La Crosse hospital.

10:30pm: The crew safely lands in La Crosse, leaves the hospital for La Crosse Airport to refuel.

10:43pm: Med Flight leaves airport for Madison. Shortly thereafter, communication with the medical team was lost.

Approx. 11:00pm: Search efforts get underway in the La Crosse area.

Sunday, 8:40am: Nearly 10 hours later, the wreckage is located.

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UPDATE Posted Sunday, May 11 --- 8:00pm

Statement from the family of Mark Coyne:
The family of Mark Coyne wish to thank everyone close to his family for their thoughts and prayers. Mark was passionate about nursing and teaching. He died doing what he loved and his inspiration will live on in his family, friends, co-workers and students. Special thanks to the staff of the UW Health/University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics for their professionalism.

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UPDATE Posted May 11 -- 6:55pm
By Zac Schultz

Town of Medary, La Crosse County: Randy Viner and his wife Deborah were in bed just before 11 Saturday night when Deborah heard a loud crash coming from the woods behind their home. "It sounded like thunder, but I'm thinking why is it thundering because it's not raining that hard out?"

The next morning firefighters found the missing Med Flight helicopter a quarter-mile from their home.

The helicopter took off from the airport about five miles to the west of the Keil Coulee valley. It crashed into the trees as it came over the ridge, slid down the slope, and came to a rest against some trees -about halfway down the valley.

Deborah wasn't the only person in the area that heard the crash. "We received a call from persons who lived in this area who heard a real loud crash, and believed it was some type of an aircraft crash," says Steve Helgeson, La Crosse County Sheriff.

The crash happened just before 11pm, and search crews were ready in a half-hour, but a heavy fog covered the valley. "With the weather we had last night we weren't able to find it until about 8:45 this morning," says Helgeson.

Thirty-three firefighters combed a few square miles in the dark. Onalaska Fire Chief Don Dominick says people in Madison were calling one of the cell phones at the crash site. "It was probably about 4 am there was a signal not too far from a radio tower right here. So were able to fine tune the area."

Dominick says they climbed up the back side of the hill. "So they come up to the top of this hill and noticed some trees were busted off and followed the path and found it. That was about 8:30 this morning."

He says the helicopter clipped trees for a few hundred yards before it hit a large tree, snapped in half and crashed to the ground.

The bodies of the crew were thrown from the cab.

The helicopter took off from the La Crosse airport and had to cross several large bluffs before hitting the trees. Sheriff Helgeson says the FAA will lead the investigation. "It does appear the helicopter did strike trees up near the top of the bluff, but what the cause of the crash is we don't know."

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Latest Update Posted at 1:25pm
Posted Sunday, May 11 --- 7:00am

NOTE: You can watch the UW-Hospital Press Conference in the video player to the right of this story. The pictures & bios of the victims are posted below.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A University of Wisconsin Hospital spokesman says three people died when a UW Med Flight helicopter crashed after taking off last night from La Crosse.

Aaron Conklin says a surgeon, a nurse and the pilot were killed in the crash, which took place as the helicopter was returning to Madison from the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center.

Allan Tiedt of the La Crosse County Emergency Dispatch Center says the wreckage was found in the town of Onalaska.

UW Hospital chief operating officer Margaret Van Bree says those killed in the crash were surgeon Darren Bean, nurse Mark Coyne and pilot Steve Lipperer.

She says the helicopter left Madison around 8:30 last night to drop off a patient at the La Crosse hospital and departed the airport there at about 10:30.

Van Bree says there was no further communication with the crew.

She says the helicopter was found about four miles from the airport at about 8:40 this morning.

Van bree says preliminary reports indicate the helicopter may have struck a hill or some trees but the exact cause is not yet known.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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The Victims:

Darren Bean -
Darren Bean, MD became a Med Flight physician for University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in 2002 after completing residency training at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. He received his MD from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in 1999.

In addition to his Med Flight duties, Bean was the emergency department director of ultrasound, member of the hospital’s multidisciplinary trauma committee and an executive board member of the Regional Trauma Advisory Committee (RTAC).

Bean was an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Mark Coyne -
Mark Coyne, RN was a Med Flight nurse for the past 22 years. Coyne has been at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics since 1981. Coyne also was an emergency medical technician-paramedic and a certified instructor in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).

Steve Lipperer -
Steve Lipperer became a Med Flight pilot for University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in 2000. He was employed by Air Methods of Denver, the company that leases the aircraft to the hospital.

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Governor Doyle Statement on the Passing of Med Flight Crew:

MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today issued the following statement on the passing of the Darren Bean, M.D., Mark Coyne, R.N. and pilot Steve Lipperer, the crew of a Med Flight helicopter that delivered a patient to Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse before its last flight:

"In our moments of greatest peril, our lives depend on the courageous work of Med Flight personnel," Governor Jim Doyle said. "Dr. Darren Bean, Mark Coyne and Steve Lipperer dedicated themselves to rescuing people who faced the longest odds, and we owe them tremendous gratitude for their extraordinary service and dedication. I pray for them, their families and all the others who love them."

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Earlier Reports Posted Prior to Noon:

UPDATE: University of Wisconsin Hospital spokespeople are confirming that 3 people have died when the UW Med Flight helicopter crashed near La Crosse

Med Flight left Madison around 8:30pm Saturday night to transport a patient to a La Crosse hospital. After dropping the patient off, the helicopter left around 10:30pm.

There was no other radio communication from the crew. The last message was a software signal sending confirmation that the aircraft took off.

The crash site was found around 8:45 this morning about 4 to 5 miles away from the area airport on a wooded hillside. Preliminary results show that the helicopter may have struck the hill or trees.

The second Med Flight unit has been taken out of service due to protocol. Other flight programs in the state will be referred to emergency calls, or ground services will be used.

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UPDATE: University of Wisconsin Hospital spokesman says three people died when a UW Med Flight helicopter crashed after taking off Saturday night from La Crosse.

According to Wisconsin Emergency Management, the helicopter crashed off Smith Valley Road, which is east of La Crosse. This is in the town of Medary. It was discovered at around 8:45am.

UW press conference scheduled for 10:30am. NBC15 News will air it LIVE. The latest information will be posted immediately on NBC15.com.

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A spokesperson for the UW-Hospital and Clinics tells us that the UW-Med Flight Helicopter is missing.

Spokesperson Don Cady says the helicopter dropped a patient off at a La-Crosse hospital (Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center) at about 10:30 last night.

It has not been heard from since.

The La Crosse County Sheriff's Department confirms deputies are conducting a search for the helicopter.

The UW-Hospital is notifying families about this situation. It is a three-person crew on board the flight.

Stay with NBC15 and NBC15.com for more information on this breaking story.

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More information on Med Flight

Details on the helicopter

From UWHealth.org:
In summer 2007, new technically advanced medical helicopters replaced UW Med Flight's two Italianbuilt Augusta Power 109 aircraft that served countless patients for nearly 10 years.

Specifically designed for air rescue, the new Eurocopter (EC 135) aircraft has come to be known as a workhorse in the emergency air transport industry.

Equipped with the most advanced air medical technology available, the low-noise and powerful twin-engine helicopter is highly maneuverable and features rear loading clam shell doors. The helicopters fly about 130 knots or 150 miles per hour. The weight limitation is approximately 350 lbs.

The new helicopters also include state-of-the-art avionics including GPS, moving map radar, SAT phones and a traffic collision avoidance system. Our pilots maintain IFR status, a rating that allows us to fly under FAA approved weather conditions that allow us to be more available throughout the year.

UW Med Flight is certified under instrument flight rules, not just visual flight rules in which the pilot must be able to see where they are going at all times. Instrument flying allows UW Med Flight to fly in less than ideal weather conditions.