ALERT helicopter flies again

The ALERT emergency air crew returns to service with a leased helicopter this evening.

Jim Oliverson, spokesman for Kalispell Regional Medical Center, said Friday the crew planned to fly the aircraft from Minuteman airport in Missoula back to Kalispell today.

"It's going back in service," Oliverson said. "Before 5 p.m. is a good estimate."

The valley has been without its distinctive air ambulance since a crash landing Nov. 2 severely damaged the ALERT helicopter.

ALERT leased the same model Bell 407 helicopter as the one damaged in the accident near the hospital helipad.

In a press release, the hospital said Larry Wilson, a businessman in Bigfork, agreed to lease his helicopter to ALERT. He allowed modifications necessary to fly emergency medical patients.

Velinda Stevens, president of Northwest Healthcare (parent company of Kalispell Regional), said the short-term lease of the same model helicopter provides the best solution since the crew won't need additional training or certification to operate it.

Wilson also plans to allow ALERT to use his helicopter in the future so required maintenance does not interrupt service.

"It's a great thing for us," chief pilot George Taylor said. "It's tremendously beneficial for us to have somebody locally give us access to his aircraft until we get ours repaired."

Taylor said he was thankful that Wilson was willing to lease his helicopter since the Bell 407 isn't readily available from commercial leasing sources. He called Wilson "very attuned to the community."

ALERT's Bell 407 helicopter provided lifesaving rescues across Northwest Montana before the accident. No one was injured in the emergency landing.

On Nov. 2, pilot Addison Clark, and two medical crew members took off to pick up a patient in Bigfork around 9 p.m. in a light snowstorm. Just after takeoff, a light alerted the crew to an engine problem.

On return to the helipad, the engine lost power. Tapping his emergency training, Clark executed a difficult landing, sparing injury to himself, a paramedic and flight nurse on board.

However, the aircraft sustained substantial damage in the forced landing.

Oliverson said aviation experts have determined that ALERT's helicopter can be repaired. Structural engineers and Bell experts tested the helicopter's frame for damage before approving replacement of all moving parts.

"We're hoping to have it back by May," he said.

A new helicopter would cost more than $2 million and could not be delivered until late in 2009.

The investigation into the cause of the crash continues. National Safety Transportation Board officials estimate it will take six months to reach a conclusion on the final cause of the crash.

It was initially classified as a catastrophic engine failure.

Since the accident, the hospital has worked with air services available through Missoula and Great Falls medical centers.

After reaching the lease agreement with Wilson, ALERT had to have a litter-loading system installed by an FAA-qualified center. The system allows the crew to slide the litter carrying the patient along a track, eliminating jostling of the injured person during loading.

The FAA cleared the leased helicopter for service after a comprehensive inspection in Missoula on Friday.

"Returning to service has been one of our main concerns all along," Taylor said. "Being out of operation for us is huge. We know how the valley depends on the service."

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.