Comments on: Broken Down: LifeFlight Helicopter Grounded In Walnut Hill http://www.northescambia.com/2013/05/broken-down-lifeflight-helicopter-grounded-in-walnut-hill Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:38:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: William http://www.northescambia.com/2013/05/broken-down-lifeflight-helicopter-grounded-in-walnut-hill/comment-page-1#comment-203022 William Sun, 05 May 2013 01:11:52 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=137399#comment-203022 >>Radio problem? Unliklely Radio problem was the simple explanation...it's my understand it lost all power to the radio systems....an electrical failure of some type, leading to concerns of a wider electrical system failure. >>Radio problem? Unliklely

Radio problem was the simple explanation…it’s my understand it lost all power to the radio systems….an electrical failure of some type, leading to concerns of a wider electrical system failure.

]]> By: wm http://www.northescambia.com/2013/05/broken-down-lifeflight-helicopter-grounded-in-walnut-hill/comment-page-1#comment-203020 wm Sun, 05 May 2013 00:50:52 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=137399#comment-203020 Radio problem? Unliklely... I worked in air medical helicopter programs for 10 years. Each aircraft has multiple public safety and aviation radios on board. Even if the transponder that identifies the aircraft on air traffic control radar systems failed -- you could fly without it to complete a mission after phone contact with the FAA approach control facility in Pensacola. Things such as an engine or transmission chip light that couldn't be resolved could ground an aircraft. Such a "chip light" is tied to a sensor in the transmission or engine that picks up metal particles in the oil/fluid. Usually, you get a chance to "zap it" to see if it is a remote piece of fuzz -- after that it means the engine or transmission is producing metal, a sign things are deteriorating inside. If the aircraft undergoes extensive maintenance on-site in Walnut Hill -- or, if it leaves on the back of a flatbed trailer -- my bet is on a mechanical problem rather than a communications problem.... Maybe it was an electrical problem, rather than a radio problem? Something shorting out producing smoke or the smell of burning electrical in the cabin? A total loss of electical systems? The thermal runaway on the aircraft's battery perhaps (similar to what has grounded Boeing's 787 airliners recently)? All possibilities -- but I assure you, it isn't a simple "radio problem". Radio problem? Unliklely… I worked in air medical helicopter programs for 10 years. Each aircraft has multiple public safety and aviation radios on board. Even if the transponder that identifies the aircraft on air traffic control radar systems failed — you could fly without it to complete a mission after phone contact with the FAA approach control facility in Pensacola.

Things such as an engine or transmission chip light that couldn’t be resolved could ground an aircraft. Such a “chip light” is tied to a sensor in the transmission or engine that picks up metal particles in the oil/fluid. Usually, you get a chance to “zap it” to see if it is a remote piece of fuzz — after that it means the engine or transmission is producing metal, a sign things are deteriorating inside.

If the aircraft undergoes extensive maintenance on-site in Walnut Hill — or, if it leaves on the back of a flatbed trailer — my bet is on a mechanical problem rather than a communications problem….

Maybe it was an electrical problem, rather than a radio problem? Something shorting out producing smoke or the smell of burning electrical in the cabin? A total loss of electical systems? The thermal runaway on the aircraft’s battery perhaps (similar to what has grounded Boeing’s 787 airliners recently)? All possibilities — but I assure you, it isn’t a simple “radio problem”.

]]> By: MQ http://www.northescambia.com/2013/05/broken-down-lifeflight-helicopter-grounded-in-walnut-hill/comment-page-1#comment-202993 MQ Sat, 04 May 2013 15:28:32 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=137399#comment-202993 I like your comment puddin, but guess it is a learning thing for the adults ... what do we do now!?! Glad the patient was ok. I like your comment puddin, but guess it is a learning thing for the adults … what do we do now!?! Glad the patient was ok.

]]> By: puddin http://www.northescambia.com/2013/05/broken-down-lifeflight-helicopter-grounded-in-walnut-hill/comment-page-1#comment-202973 puddin Sat, 04 May 2013 12:06:58 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=137399#comment-202973 Was wondering what it was doing there. I thought maybe it was some sort of learning thing for the kids. Was wondering what it was doing there. I thought maybe it was some sort of learning thing for the kids.

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