Pilot's texting contributed to copter crash

(Duplicate Squawk Submitted)

NTSB: Medevac Pilot's Texting Factor in 2011 Fatal Crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — Texting by the pilot of a medical helicopter contributed to a crash that killed four people, federal accident investigators declared Tuesday, and they approved a safety alert cautioning all pilots against using cellphones or other distracting devices during critical operations.

It was the first fatal commercial aircraft accident investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board in which texting has been implicated. And it underscored the board's worries that distractions from electronic devices are a growing factor in incidents across all modes of transportation — planes, trains, cars, trucks and even ships.

http://www.firehouse.com/news/10918010/ntsb-medevac-pilots-texting-factor-in-2011-fatal-crash

I think all modes of transport should be treated equally. Currently there are Federal rules against anyone in a safety sensitive position from having a cell phone on during their tour of duty. Certain exceptions such as using them as a redundant source of communication while performing duty allow their use. However there are preconditions one must meet before it is used. If involved in an incident that leads to injury or worse, phone records can be reviewed without permission.

Why on earth are regulators waiting til more people are hurt or killed?

I try to adhere to the sterile cockpit rule when below 4,000 at my home airport and 5,000 feet when flying out of town. No need to criticize the pilot cause WE ALL have done stuff like this but luckily we are all still alive cause we got lucky. No one needs to act like they are perfect. The policy is GO BY YOUR CHECKLIST! Have a checklist that covers everthing that way you miss nothing. A couple weeks ago I was in a rush to beat the weather and forgot to sump my tanks......I was lucky.

Apparantly his autorotation skills were a little fatigued also.

You can't fix stupid.