LETTERS: STORY MISREPRESENTED COPTER COMMENTS

To the editor:

Having just read Tony Hall's recent article, "Hospital helicopter lands on Broadway," I am compelled to bring to your attention that his article contains several references to comments made by me in a telephone interview with him that were not only distorted, but taken out of context. More importantly, however, those distortions do an inexcusable injustice to a highly professional group of people who provide an invaluable service to the citizens of Cape Girardeau. I am certain this misrepresentation was unintentional, but nevertheless it must be corrected.

Let me state emphatically that at no time do Mr. Hall make reference to the accident that occurred at Southeast Missouri Hospital, nor did he ask specific questions that would require my analysis of that accident. At the time of the interview, I had limited knowledge of the accident. Rather, he contacted me to inquire about checklists that are performed by pilots prior to flight. I explained in very general terms that "no shoe fits all," and that checklists will vary depending upon the nature of the aircraft, crew, weather, terrain and the mission to be performed. He also asked about causes of accidents, but he misquoted when he cites me saying that "Nearly two-thirds of helicopter accidents ... are directly attributable to pilot mistakes." This is inaccurate. A review of National Transportation Safety Board reports do indicate that approximately two-thirds of accidents are induced by some human failure. This does not necessarily mean the pilot. There are many people other than the pilot who contribute to or adversely affect aviation safety: maintenance personnel, ground crew, management and, in some cases, even the passengers themselves.

However, more important that what was said and in what context, I take strong exception to Mr. Hall writing in such a way that my comments cast aspersion upon this flight crew, particularly the pilot, of the helicopter involved in this particular accident. Generic answers to generic questions were strategically placed in the article to make the appearance that they were directed toward this incident. That simply is not true. This accident is still under investigation, and it would be highly unfair and inappropriate of Helicopter Association International to comment on an event where the facts of the situation are still being determined.

Regardless of the eventual determination of cause, which will be established not by Mr. Hall, the Southeast Missourian or myself, but by the NTSB, it must not go unrecognized that this pilot, Andy Schmidt, demonstrated outstanding airmanship and a high degree of professionalism by recovering control of his aircraft from what could have been a four-story freefall, landing with relatively little damage and, in so doing, saving the lives of his crews. I am one professional pilot who takes my hat off to this pilot. He, his crew, LifeBeat Air Medical and St. Louis Helicopters deserve better than what they received from Mr. Hall and the Southeast Missourian.

RICHARD M. WRIGHT JR., Director of Safety and Flight Operations

Helicopter Association International

Alexandria, Va.