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Investigators blame pilot for helicopter crash

A National Transportation Safety Board report has concluded that pilot error caused the December 1994 Medflight helicopter crash that killed three air ambulance members shortly after lift-off from St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor.

According to the report, after one engine died for undetermined reasons, pilot Richard Elliot erred and shut off the working engine of the Augusta 109.

"The NTSB determines the probable cause(s) of the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain/maintain a successful autorotation. Factors were a loss of engine power of one engine for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's shutdown of the wrong engine," the report states.

The investigators have not concluded what caused the first engine to lose power, but said it is common procedure for a pilot to turn off the faulty engine before attempting a landing.

One of the investigators, Steve Wilson, called the NTSB "kind of like an umpire."

"We call it like we see it," Wilson said.

The preliminary report issued by a Chicago team determined that neither of the two engines was running during the crash, but both worked properly during later tests.

"(An investigation) in many cases is more or less a process of elimination," Wilson said.

Dr. John McCabe, president of Midwest Medflight, said in a written statement that the report "is very hard for us to hear in view of Rick Elliott's experience, record and careful approach to his job, but at least it's a step toward closure on this tragedy that has affected all of us so deeply."

McCabe said there was no concern with employee quality before or after the accident.

Wilson said that when an investigation reveals a pilot's error in a serious accident the news often upsets families and co-workers.

He maintained NTSB is objective. "This is not a game we play," he said. "There are no winners or losers."

Wilson said investigations often lead NTSB to install new safety measures for airplanes and helicoptors.

Killed instantly in the crash were Elliott, flight nurse Jan Nowacki of Canton and flight physician Terry Raciot of Ann Arbor.

The helicopter crashed down near the University's North Campus at Phillips Corporation's headquarters on Plymouth Road near Huron Parkway.

The crash occurred at about 10 a.m. on a weekday morning and drew a crowd of about 200 to the site of the mangled chopper.

The NTSB released a preliminary accident report last month that described the flight, the crash and the investigation in detail, but did not draw any conclusions about its cause. The five-member board evaluated the evidence and reached a conclusion.

Elliott's family could not be reached for comment yesterday.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.