MSP Helicopter Loses Part Of Tail; SFDFD Lends Hand

A Maryland State Police Helicopter lost part of its tail section in mid-flight, Friday April 20, while enroute to pick up a medical patient in Eldersburg.

Sykesville EMS crews were treating a female patient for a possible stroke, and had requested MSP Trooper 3 from Frederick to transport the patient downtown. Engine 123 responded to handle the landing site at the rear of the Carrolltowne Mall.

After the helicopter had landed in the parking lot, firefighter Jack Cimino noticed that the top of the tail section appeared to have something wrong with it, as wires were hanging from the top of the section. He notified Deputy Chief Ed Ruch, Jr., who told the helicopter crew. When the pilot noticed the problem, he immediately began to shut the helicopter down. The patient was then taken by ambulance to Northwest Hospital Center.

Upon further review, it was discovered the entire top piece of the helicopter's tail section had been sheared off. Another helicopter was dispatched with the appropriate replacement piece and mechanics to repair the aircraft.

Both the pilot and the flight medic aboard Trooper 3 told firefighters that they could not feel any vibration or anything amiss from the missing piece of tail section. Nor did they feel any impact with any object, such as a bird. The pilot was able to land safely, and only noticed the problem when it was pointed out by fire crews on the ground.

Sykesville's Ladder 12 was brought to the scene to provide a platform from which the mechanics could perform their work. After a short time, the tail section was repaired and the helicopter was able to take off for Martin State Airport, where a further inspection would take place.

Sykesville firefighters were glad to lend assistance to the MSP, as they have done for us so many times in the past.