Jan. 26, 2010 — An incident involving a Care Flight helicopter did not disrupt air ambulance service in Lassen County.    

On Sunday, Jan. 17 the copter made what is being called a hard landing on the top of Renown Medical Center’s rooftop.    

According to Ian Gregor, communications manager of the FAA Western-Pacific Region, an Aerospatiale AS350 helicopter operated by Air Methods was departing from Renown Regional Medical Center on Sunday when the pilot made an emergency autorotation.

An autorotation is a procedure in which a pilot brings a helicopter down to the ground when the aircraft loses engine power.    

Upon impact, the helicopter spun 180 degrees on the helipad.    

There was substantial damage to the helicopter, and a flight nurse received some injuries but there was no report on how serious those injuries were. There were no patients on board the helicopter.   

The FAA's Reno Flight Standards District Office is investigating the incident.   

According to Chip Jackson, chief of Lassen County Emergency Services, Care Flight does have another helicopter that can service the county, if need be, but the helicopter will not go up if the weather is bad, which it has been for several days.    

Mountain LifeFlight released the following statement, "Mountain Lifeflight is relieved there were no fatalities in Care Flight's helicopter crash on Jan. 17 and we send thoughts and prayers for the injured flight nurse. Care Flight has been very helpful with temporary helicopter coverage for Lassen County while Mountain Lifeflight has been unavailable for helicopter response and was immediately ready to assist us in our time of tragedy.    

“Care Flight and Mountain Lifeflight have a long standing relationship to work together to provide mutual aid response in both of our coverage areas. We look forward to continuing to work together in the months and years to come. Mountain Lifeflight hopes to minimize the time Lassen County is without a helicopter air ambulance responder and is on target to be fully operational with helicopter service at the end of January. Mountain Lifeflight continues to be available with the fixed-wing airplane to provide emergency and inter-facility transports from the Susanville Municipal Airport."   

Mountain Lifeflight will soon be returning to full operational service. Mountain Lifeflight’s newest aircraft, an AStar 350 B3 helicopter, has arrived in Susanville and is expected to be placed into service at the end of January.    

The new helicopter joins the Mountain Lifeflight fleet that is currently providing medical transport to Lassen County with its fixed wing airplane.  Mountain LifeFlight’s new helicopter is the latest model and is the same type of rotor used by the CHP.    

With its increased speed and range, coupled with being based at the Susanville Municipal Airport, the helicopter will provide Lassen County with faster response and transfer times.