By Rachel D'Oro
Associated Press
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Volunteers joined a Coast Guard search Tuesday for a medical helicopter that vanished in snow and heavy wind while carrying a patient and medical crew over mountainous coastal terrain.

A Coast Guard cutter was searching for the LifeGuard Alaska helicopter, listening for signals from the helicopter's emergency beacon near its last known position over the southeast side of Esther Island in Prince William Sound, about 75 miles southeast of Anchorage. Volunteers directed by Alaska State Troopers joined the search in three fishing boats.

The helicopter was heading about 150 miles from Cordova to the Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage when it disappeared early Monday evening, authorities said. The helicopter crew had made a satellite phone call at 5:18 p.m., but it was not a distress call, Coast Guard Lt. John McWhite said.

Wind gusts of 60 mph were recorded in the search area Tuesday. A low cloud ceiling prevented aircraft from taking part, said Col. Dave Lowell, director of operations for the Alaska National Guard.

"The weather is bad enough that we can't get into any approaches in Prince William Sound," Lowell said.

Despite the poor visibility, Lowell said the search would continue "until it's not plausible or reasonable to go on."

The twin-engine aircraft was reported missing after the crew failed to check in for position updates that are supposed to be issued every 10 minutes, said Providence Alaska spokeswoman Becky Hultberg. The flight usually takes about 90 minutes, she said.

The hospital launched its overdue plane procedures at 5:50 p.m. and reported the helicopter missing to the Alaska Air National Guard's Rescue Coordination Center at 6:55 p.m., Hultberg said.

A patient, pilot, paramedic and nurse were aboard the Eurocopter BK 117. Their names and the reason for the flight were not released.

A National Weather Service buoy just south of Esther Island recorded sustained winds at 25 mph, with gusts around 50 mph, at about the time the helicopter disappeared, said aviation meteorologist Victor Proton. The agency issued advisories alerting pilots about moderate turbulence as well as low visibility, he said.

On the Net:
Providence LifeGuard Air Ambulance: www.providence.org/alaska/lifeguard