On January 17, 2010, at 1250 Pacific standard time, a Eurocopter AS350 B3, N904CF, landed hard on the helicopter pad at Renown Regional Medical Center, Reno, Nevada. The helicopter was operated by Air Methods under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, as a positioning flight. The pilot and two medical crew were not injured, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at the Renown Regional Medical Center.
The pilot reported to the Safety Board investigator that the purpose of the flight was to fly to Humboldt for an inner facility transfer of a patient from Humboldt General Hospital, Winnemucca, Nevada, to Renown Regional Medical Center. He took off from the Renown helicopter pad and positioned the helicopter in to a high hover, 25 feet, per the normal operating procedures. Just as he was beginning his transition to forward flight he heard a loud bang, and the helicopter experienced a partial power loss. The pilot lowered the collective slightly and landed hard on the helicopter pad, which was still beneath the helicopter.