June 14, 2023 at 4:13 p.M. | Updated on June 15, 2023

As stated in a federal report regarding the incident, the pilot of the Erlanger Life Force helicopter, which crashed in North Carolina on March 9, observed trees looming in front of him while on autopilot when he glanced up and was going through flight records.

According to Med-Trans Corp, Erlanger’s Life Force partner, the pilot has subsequently been fired.

The National Traffic and Safety Board found that the improper decision of the pilot to review the aircraft’s logbook resulted in a crash, which was caused by the pilot’s investigation into the final agency’s investigative report, while the flight was controlled in terrain according to the route.

According to the NTSB report released on June 6, the pilot, whose identity remains undisclosed in federal records, furnished a comprehensive account of the occurrences.

Document.

North Carolina, about 100 miles from Asheville to Murphy, the Life Force helicopter was flying. The pilot noted during the flight that the route would pass through peaks ranging from 5,000 to 5,500 feet, with the highest obstacle along the route being at 6,100 feet.Output: Prior to the flight, the pilot determined that the highest hurdle along the route was at an elevation of 6,100 feet. The pilot observed that while flying from Asheville to Murphy in North Carolina, a distance of approximately 100 miles, the Life Force helicopter would traverse peaks ranging from 5,000 to 5,500 feet.

The storytelling in the report depicts the sequence of occurrences.

The report stated, “Subsequently, the flight nurse inquired about an updated estimated time en route, and when the pilot raised his gaze, he observed that the helicopter was approaching a peak covered with trees.” “Following takeoff, he programmed the autopilot to maintain an altitude of 5,500 feet and stabilized the aircraft. He intended to put on the night vision goggles but realized that they were placed on the copilot seat on top of an aircraft logbook. He proceeded to relocate the logbook to the pilot door compartment, where it is usually stored for flight, and decided to cross-reference the flight times with the maintenance schedule. At that moment, he noticed that the cloud ceiling was descending and adjusted the autopilot to an altitude of 5,000 feet. Then, he focused his attention back on reviewing the logbook.”

(READ MORE: Erlanger’s Life Force helicopters resuming operations after accident in North Carolina).

According to the report, the helicopter’s tail boom hit multiple trees when the pilot tried to ascend, causing the craft’s vertical stabilizer to detach from the tail boom.

The report stated, “The pilot mentioned that there were no mechanical issues or failures with the helicopter before the crash that would have prevented it from operating normally.” Afterward, the pilot made an emergency landing on a road, causing significant damage to the fuselage and tail boom.

As per Erlanger authorities, Life Force 6, the helicopter involved in the accident, is usually based in Cherokee County, North Carolina, and serves a 150-mile circumference. Life Force 6 was transporting a patient from Erlanger’s satellite medical facility in Murphy, North Carolina, to Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, when the crash occurred.

Federal officials reported that the helicopter incurred significant harm, yet there was no occurrence of fire or explosion. Three passengers suffered minor wounds, while the crew remained unharmed.

Kelley Blaine, a spokesperson for the hospital, said in an emailed statement on Wednesday that the safety of our crew and patients remains our top priority. We are working with our partner, Med-Trans Corp., To ensure that this event is addressed in a timely and appropriate manner. We appreciate everyone’s effort in identifying the underlying cause of this situation.

A spokesperson for Med-Trans Corp. Said in a statement the company appreciates the “diligence and comprehensiveness” with which authorities completed their investigation.

The spokesperson stated, “The pilot’s tenure with the company has ended at Med-Trans Corporation. If required, further measures will be taken, including a thorough review of the report. The final report will address the identified issues and probable cause, and the steps we have already implemented.”

The spokesperson stated that the company informed the Federal Aviation Administration about the termination in compliance with relevant regulations.

Get in touch with Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfre