Mercy Flight helicopter crashed in New York state

The Bell 429, identified as a Mercy Flight aircraft, took off from Genesee County Airport at approximately 11:15 hrs, with preliminary data showing that the helicopter was flying at around 2,000 feet (610m) for most of its flight.

The two pilots have been identified as James E Sauer, 60, a pilot for Mercy Flight, and Stewart M Dietrick, 60, a pilot with Bell Helicopter.

The aircraft was reported to have crashed at around 13:00 hrs on Tuesday 26 April near the town of Elba in the state of New York. The main portion of the aircraft was reported to be fairly intact, albeit with severe damage, and the tail was found separated from the main wreckage. A small fire was still burning when responders arrived but was subsequently extinguished.

Directly preceding the crash, witnesses reported hearing a ‘large boom’ before seeing the helicopter fall from the sky.

Both pilots had already died when the crash was discovered, and no other passengers were on board. No people on the ground were hurt.

The aircraft had been performing 'pattern work'

According to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Investigator Aaron McCarter, the aircraft had been performing ‘pattern work’, as would be expected during a training exercise.

McCarter added that the NTSB has begun an investigation into the crash, and would document the wreckage, talk to witnesses and retrieve data from the aircraft’s data recorder, with on-site work expected to last between three and five days. A preliminary report is expected after 10 days, with a full report planned in about 12 months.

The NTSB released a preliminary report in February on the crash of another air ambulance helicopter operated by Air Methods which crashed on 11 January.