Ornge helicopter makes emergency landing

[burhead1]

I have posted this altho i don't understand how this became a emergency. Can you not fly those with a door open? http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/ ... ntoNewHome

An Ornge air ambulance helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in a Toronto park after a mechanical issue, which caused a door to open in flight on Friday evening.

A spokesperson with Ornge said the helicopter departed from its base in Toronto at approximately 6:15 p.m. to do a patient transport with two pilots and two paramedics on board.

The patient was not yet on the helicopter when the mechanical issue forced the emergency landing in Colonel Samuel Smith Park, which is located on the western waterfront near Humber College.

There was some structural damage to the helicopter as a result of the landing, Ornge said.

The helicopter will remain in the park until the Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating, gives Ornge permission to move it.

Ornge will also do its own investigation into the emergency landing and the mechanical issue, the spokesperson said.

[C-FABH]

I'm sure you could operate with the sliding door secured open, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to be in the paramedics seat. Having it open unexpectedly would give me a heart attack.

Also, when the door popped opened one of the cabin push-out emergency exit windows decided to take a separate flight path, I suspect it may have gone into the lake. Didn't look like any obvious structural damage, not sure if this alludes to the door area or otherwise.

[Heliian]

Usually parts that depart in flight end up smackin the rest of the machine before falling away. Scare the pants right off ya for sure and if it hit the tail propeller on the way back, probably make you want to land asap. Unsecured doors falling off helicopters is not limited to one type, it can happen to any machine. But any incident with ornge is going to be plastered all over the front page, maybe the rest of the gov. operators could be as scrutinized.