Chopper Accidents Prompt Safety Audit Proposal

In the wake of two serious accidents involving Los Angeles Fire Department helicopters, Councilman Mike Feuer has proposed an independent safety audit of the city’s air operations.

The accidents, which killed four people and wrecked two of the Fire Department’s large helicopters, “have raised concerns about the airworthiness of the city’s helicopter fleet,” Feuer said in a motion introduced Tuesday.

Last March, a faulty tail rotor felled a rescue helicopter in Griffith Park, killing three firefighters and the Sun Valley girl they were transporting to a hospital. Earlier this month, another Fire Department chopper lost power and was forced to land in Rustic Canyon; the helicopter was damaged beyond repair but there were no serious injuries.

Another helicopter was heavily damaged after it struck power lines in a separate incident last March, said Daniel Hinerfeld, an aide to Feuer.

The proposed audit would analyze maintenance, pilot training, equipment and other issues affecting helicopter safety. In addition to the five helicopters used by the Fire Department, the survey would include two flown by the Department of Water and Power and 17 Police Department choppers.

“We welcome the third-party review of the city’s maintenance procedures and, from our department’s perspective, our flight operations,” said Assistant Fire Chief Dean Cathey. He attributed the recent accidents to “a very unfortunate string of bad luck.”

“We think they are safe,” he said. “We’re asking somebody else to validate that for us.”