WASHINGTON, D.C. – A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board has been released regarding the deadly REACH medical helicopter crash in Sacramento.
The crash happened on October 6 and resulted in the death of flight nurse Susan “Suzie” Smith, with major injuries sustained by the pilot and flight paramedic.
According to the NTSB, the accident took place around 7:05 p.m. Pacific daylight time when the Airbus Helicopters EC-130 T-2, registered as N414RX, sustained significant damage. The helicopter was on a medical flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135.
The helicopter had just left UC Davis Medical Center’s Tower II Heliport in Sacramento and was headed to McClellan Airfield.
According to the flight paramedic, a power outage occurred shortly after takeoff, causing the helicopter to auto-rotate towards U.S. Highway 50. A mayday call was made on the company Flight Guard frequency.
The helicopter eventually landed on its left side in the eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 50, about 1,600 feet north of its departure point. A main rotor blade left an impression on a residential fence, and a portion of the rotor blade was found embedded in the roof of a nearby detached garage.
ADS-B data showed the helicopter reached a maximum altitude of about 500 feet above sea level before descending in the last 11 seconds of the flight.
The post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the helicopter’s fuselage and main rotor blades. The wreckage has been recovered for further investigation.
The pilot of the helicopter, Chad Millward, was discharged from the hospital last week and continues to recover from his injuries sustained in the crash at a inpatient rehabilitation facility.
Margaret “DeDe” Davis, the flight paramedic, was discharged from the hospital two weeks ago and has been moved to an inpatient rehabilitation facility.
The full NTSB Preliminary Report on the crash can be read in its entirety below:
