NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A flight paramedic was forced to take the controls of a Vanderbilt LifeFlight helicopter after the pilot became unresponsive during a medical emergency, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.
The Nov. 8 crash killed 55-year-old Vanderbilt Flight Nurse/Paramedic Allan Williams and seriously injured the pilot and Flight Paramedic Andrew Sikes after the pilot suffered a medical emergency while the helicopter was in flight, WTVF reported.
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The crew had been responding to Rutherford County when the call was canceled 10 minutes into the flight. The pilot began turning the helicopter back to base, but Sikes told investigators the pilot stopped responding to him.
Sikes said he tried several times to get the pilot’s attention and was met with a “complete blank stare.”
Though he had never handled flight controls before, Sikes tried to slow the helicopter by mimicking pilots he had watched. When the pilot only pointed out an open field, Sikes grasped the cyclic and tried to fly towards it, but the aircraft struck treetops and crashed.
Investigators have found no evidence of mechanical problems with the helicopter so far, the NTSB said. The agency’s full investigation remains ongoing.
The preliminary report indicates Sikes’ quick actions likely prevented an even more serious outcome.
