SAFETY checks have been ordered on Dorset’s air ambulance after a major fault was discovered, which could cause them to crash.
A crack was found on the main rotor hub of one Eurocopter EC135, prompting a safety warning by the European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa).
The agency has ordered pre-flight checks until an investigation into the problem has been completed.
“This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to further crack propagation, possibly resulting in the main rotor hub failure and consequent loss of the helicopter,” Easa warned in a directive issued last month.
Around 1,000 of the craft are in use around the world, including air ambulance services in England, Scotland and Wales.
Tracy Bartram from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance said: “We carried out a check straight away as soon as we were notified about this, two or three weeks ago.”
A spokesperson for Bond Air Services, the aircraft’s operator said they are working closely with Eurocopter to identify the exact cause of the crack.
They added: “As a company committed to the highest levels of safety, a special check of all our EC135s was immediately carried out before their next flight without a further finding.
“Eurocopter also promptly initiated a worldwide EC135 fleet inspection, which has confirmed this is up to now the only occurrence across the worldwide fleet in more than 2.3million flight hours since the first helicopter was manufactured more than 15 years ago.
“In the meantime we wish to assure users of our aircraft that our fleet of EC135s are inspected in accordance with the latest directives from the manufacturer and EASA since the crack was detected and therefore continue to meet the highest levels of safety.”
The air ambulance, which receives no Government or Lottery funding, relies entirely on the generosity of the public to raise the £1.4million a year to keep them flying.
Crews were in action at the weekend, airlifting a seven-year-old boy to hospital after a serious collision on the A31.
On average the air ambulance attends up to four incidents a day with the number significantly increasing during the summer months.
In 2011 the highly trained paramedics and pilots attended 665 incidents, 108 involving youngsters under the age of 16.
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