WASHINGTON, D.C. – A report released this week from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says that Mercy’s Air Med helicopter that crashed in January of 2013 – killing three persons board – was not certified to fly in icy conditions.
A medical helicopter, Mercy Air Med, went down near Clear Lake en route to Emmetsburg at about 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 2, 2013. The three people on board – a nurse, Shelly (Shell) Lair-Langenbau; a paramedic, Russell (Russ) Piehl, and a pilot with Med-Trans, the helicopter service, did not survive the incident. The helicopter was destroyed.
The cause of the crash had been under investigation ever since the tragedy. This week, the NTSB announced in a report that the helicopter – a Bell Helicopter model 407 – was not certificated for intentional flight into known icing conditions. Also, the rotor blades were not equipped with ice protection.
The report from the NTSB describes icy conditions and mist falling from the sky on the evening of the crash.
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