Agusta Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 3500
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
I was PIC of an EMS helicopter. I started up in preparation to leave an accident scene. As I reached 100% RPM; the aircraft rotor system was struck by an oncoming vehicle in the far lane. The Department of Public Safety had opened the highway to traffic prior to ensuring I had departed the scene and a 26-foot rental truck struck my rotors; damaging all four rotor tips and rendering the aircraft unairworthy. There were no injuries; only damage to the aircraft and truck.This was an easily avoidable mishap. The person(s) in charge of the scene should have made sure we were either clear of the scene or that our spot on the ground was not a conflict with traffic. My Medic requested that the highway remain closed until we departed; but that request was ignored; resulting in this mishap.
Rotor of an A-119 helicopter preparing to depart from a highway accident scene was struck by a truck while still on the ground. Damage was inflicted on all four rotor blades.