Helicopter finds safe haven at Columbiana church

COLUMBIANA - Pastor Chuck Hamilton was sitting in his office at the Upper Room Fellowship off state Route 14 when he heard what he thought was a truck exploding in the parking lot.

He soon discovered the sound was that of an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter landing in the soccer field next to the church.

The helicopter was en route to East Liverpool on Tuesday after delivering a patient to St. Elizabeth Medical Center when it was forced to land due to the weather, Matt Handley, Air Evac Lifeteam program director for base 81, said.

The patient had been involved in a propane truck rollover in Hanoverton, he added.

"On the way back home the (weather) ceilings were starting to come down so the pilot made a safe landing in the soccer field at the church," he said.

Hamilton said the weight of the helicopter proved too much for the wet grass, which began to slowly sink.

The Air Evac team and members of church staff worked together to move the helicopter to the church parking lot and then up a small incline to rest under the carport at the church entrance.

Hamilton said he suggested the carport when the pilot and medical professionals said the helicopter would have to remain grounded for the next few days because of the hazardous weather forecast.

Five people, including Air Evac employees, Hamilton, the church secretary and janitor John Ferranti, physically pushed the helicopter to the carport using two sets of double wheel jacks provided by Air Evac.

"I never pushed a helicopter before," Hamilton joked, adding it was fortunate church staff were there at the time.

In addition to Hamilton, the church secretary, Ferranti, and youth leader Christy Calfee were at the church on Tuesday.

"They caught us at a good time," he said.

Handley said the helicopter will fly back to East Liverpool when the weather is safe for air travel.

The National Weather Service out of Pittsburgh issued a winter weather advisory and hazardous weather outlook for Columbiana and neighboring counties on Tuesday afternoon. One to three inches of snow was expected, according to the forecast.

kschwendeman@mojonews.com

Source: http://www.morningjournalnews.com/page/content.detail/id/536872.html

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