Primary finding
Probable cause
The cardiac impairment of the pilot during a positioning flight.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During a positioning flight shortly after takeoff, the pilot began to have chest pains and he informed the on-board medical crew that he would be returning to the departure heliport. He landed uneventfully at the heliport and was then airlifted by a company helicopter to a hospital in Tennessee for medical treatment.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 30, 2010, about 2020 eastern daylight time, a Bell 407, N516MT, registered to and operated by Med-Trans Corporation, was landed uneventfully after the pilot experienced physical discomfort during a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight from Smythe County Community Hospital Heliport (VG41), Marion, Virginia, to Wythe County Community Hospital Heliport (22VA), Wytheville, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and company flight following was activated. The helicopter was not damaged and there were no injuries to the commercial certificated pilot, nurse, or paramedic. The flight originated from VG41 about 2014.The director of operations stated that shortly after takeoff, the pilot began to have chest pains and he informed the on-board medical crew that he would be returning to the departure heliport. He landed uneventfully at the heliport and was then airlifted by a company helicopter to a hospital in Tennessee for medical treatment.