Investigators Unable to Pinpoint Exact Reason for Mid-Air Emergency, Despite Successful Crash Landing
Federal authorities have concluded that the precise cause of a dramatic helicopter crash near Philadelphia in 2022 cannot be determined, despite extensive investigation. The medical helicopter, en route to a hospital in Philadelphia, experienced a severe mid-air emergency, causing it to nose-dive before successfully crash-landing without fatalities.
The Eurocopter EC135 was flying at approximately 1,500 feet when it abruptly gained altitude, only to spiral into a steep descent over Drexel Hill. Surveillance footage captured the helicopter’s “near-vertical, nose-down, spiralling descent.” Although the pilot managed to regain control and avoided crashing into surrounding buildings and power lines, the aircraft could not regain sufficient engine power, resulting in a crash landing next to Drexel Hill United Methodist Church in Upper Darby at around 1 p.m. on January 11, 2022.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its final report on January 4, stating that the helicopter’s engines operated normally but failed to provide enough power to continue flight. The board concluded that the probable cause was “an inflight attitude upset for undetermined reasons,” which caused over-speeding of the rotor system and a power reduction from both engines.
The flight, operated by Denver-based Air Methods and part of the LifeNet program, was transporting an infant and a medical crew when the incident occurred. The pilot sustained serious injuries but was able to land the helicopter safely, avoiding further harm despite the challenging conditions.
Witnesses, including flight crew members, recalled the frightening moments of the emergency, with the medic and nurse being thrown to the ceiling of the helicopter as it rolled sharply. They managed to secure themselves and the patient as the pilot assessed potential emergency landing sites. Local authorities labelled the incident a “miracle” due to the lack of life-threatening injuries, despite the close proximity of the crash to a daycare centre at the time.
