Apparatus Operator
Michael D. McComb
Fire Station 90-B
Appointed May 13, 1972
Firefighter Lead Paramedic
Eric F. Reiner
Rescue Ambulance 81-B
Appointed November 28, 1988
Firefighter Paramedic
Michael A. Butler
Rescue Ambulance 81-B
Appointed December 9, 1984
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In the days since hearing of and responding as a chaplain to Steve Robinson’s passing I have been struck by the overall significance of the Fire 3 crash. By itself, the loss of four lives and critical injuries to two of our members is big enough, but since it happened in the shadow of Captain Joe Dupee’s line of duty death, our first in fourteen years, the impact of incident #147 is quite broad.
Fire 3 and any loss of life is never about numbers, it’s about our members. March 8 and 23 of 1998 are days the LAFD should never forget. We don’t want to relive those events, but out of honor and respect we must never forget the lost and the hurting that remain. We still need each other.
George Negrete, LAFD Chaplain
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NTSB Report
Accident occurred MAR-23-98 at LOS ANGELES, CA Aircraft: Bell 205A-1
On March 23, 1998, about 0740 hours, a Bell 205A-1, operated by the LAFD, experienced an in-flight tail rotor system failure. During the attempted forced landing, the helicopter impacted trees and terrain approximately 1.5 miles northwest of its destination. The purpose of the flight was to provide air ambulance transportation for a seriously injured child. The helicopter was destroyed, and the commercial certificated pilot and one crewmember were seriously injured. Three additional crewmembers and the passenger sustained fatal injuries. The local area flight originated from the Van Nuys Airport about 0722. Upon dispatch, the helicopter proceeded about 8 miles northeast and landed about 0729 at the Stonehurst Elementary School playground, near the scene of an automobile traffic accident. The 11-year-old trauma patient (passenger) was loaded into the helicopter, and the pilot took off about 0731. Using the air traffic control call sign of “Lifeguard Fire Three,” the pilot proceeded in a south-southeasterly direction directly toward the Children’s Hospital. About 0737, during cruise flight over Griffith Park, the pilot experienced a partial loss of control and transmitted that he was experiencing an emergency. About 1/2 minute later, the pilot indicated that he was making a forced landing. During the wreckage examination the helicopter’s two tail rotor blades and the adjacent 90-degree gear box were observed missing from the tail boom. These components were subsequently located on a hillside debris path within approximately 0.1 mile of each other, and about 1 mile north of the main wreckage. The yoke assembly, which normally secures the rotor blades together and connects to the drive shaft, was observed fractured. A local metallurgical laboratory reported the yoke had a fatigue fracture.
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The Eternal Scar
By Nicholas Reiner
March 23rd, an ordinary day, just one to forget.
Maybe for you, but not for me, not yet.
I was changed that morning, changed in my soul and my heart,
A morning for me that will stand apart
My Dad died that day doing what he did best
Saving lives without much rest.
The helicopter–the cradle of life had rudder failure and started to descend.
The girl in the chopper dying, my dad and others gave a hand to lend.
The aircraft was lost, my Dad lost with it.
I was thunderstruck, shocked, and utterly sad
That my life had taken this turn because of the loss of my Dad
I didn’t know what to think, or say
I experienced nothing but sadness that horrible day.
I was left without a father to guide me on my way.
Left without a leader, I began to sway
Back and forth with a question I had
Why did God choose to take my Dad?
Why me, why him, why oh why?
What would my life be like if he were here, alive?
How would I have been, what would I have done?
Would I have been a good or bad son?
I’ll never know, because I can’t change the past
This is why my memories and prayers must last
One of his favorite quotes was “Always take the high road.”
Well, when I think of him I ponder this quote.
And I think that if he died to save then I can stand up and be brave
Face my fears, and take up my crosses
Accept hardship, and deal with my losses
I am scarred forever because he died
Unable to forget what is contained inside
This wound, once open and throbbing without control
Now silent, numbed, a deep meaningful hole
Eternally present, once only pain,
Now death gives way to hopeful gain
A tear, a smothered cry, anguished undenied
Find here a knowing, a caring and warmth supplied
The day is gone, the scar will stay
His courage, now mine, will lead the way.
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MESSAGE FROM FIRE ADMINISTRATION – 12:19:32 03/23/98-PAGE 1
S P E C I A L N O T I C E
MARCH 23, 1998
EARLY THIS MORNING, LAFD UNITS RESPONDED TO A TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT SUNLAND AND WHEATLAND IN FS-24’S DISTRICT.
THEY REQUESTED AN AIR AMBULANCE TO TRANSPORT A 12-YEAR-0LD FEMALE PATIENT TO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL. FIRE-3 RESPONDED WITH A PILOT AND TWO HELITAC PERSONNEL FROM FS-90. TWO FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDICS FROM RA-81 WERE ON BOARD PROVIDING TREATMENT. WHILE REROUTE TO CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, THE HELICOPTER CRASHED AT RED OAK AND FERNDELL DRIVE IN FS-82’S DISTRICT. THREE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS AND THE YOUNG PATIENT PERISHED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE TWO REMAINING DEPARTMENT MEMBERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO COUNTY USC MEDICAL CENTER IN SERIOUS BUT STABLE CONDITION.
KILLED IN THE CRASH WERE:
APPARATUS OPERATOR MICHAEL D. MCCOMB, FS 90-B
FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC MICHAEL A. BUTLER, FS 81-B
FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC ERIC R. REINER, FS 81-B
SERIOUSLY INJURED WERE:
PILOT II STEVEN L. ROBINSON, AIR OPERATIONS
FIREFIGHTER DENNIS J. SILGEN, FS 90-B
UNTIL PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETED, ALL LAFD HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN GROUNDED AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH L.A. COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COVER OUR NEEDS.