Witnesses from nearby buildings believed that the tail end of the helicopter hit one of the towers on the roof upon take off. The helicopter was noticed with the tail of it pointing down and the nose pointing upwards. Immediately after take off the helicopter tried to return to the heliport to make a landing when it was said to have turned on its side and go down.
The two passengers were doing a routine test of take offs and landings. It is reported that the two passengers escaped without serious injuries.
The helicopter fire was extinguished quickly but not until fuel leaked to the floor below causing an evacuation of the top three floors of Spectrum Hospital. Patients on these floors had to be transferred to other hospitals while the fuel spill is cleaned up.
The area surrounding Spectrum Hospital in downtown Grand Rapids was closed off and caused major traffic tie-ups. It was one of the worst helicopter accidents in Grand Rapids.
