By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorWind gusts were reported by the crew of a ARCH medical helicopter during a successful landing prior to a fiery crash that killed the pilot later that same evening.The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report last week in connection to the March 6 fatal crash in downtown St. Louis.The Airbus EC-130 was returning to St. Louis University Hospital to pick up a crew when it hit the edge of a hospital building and crashed into a parking lot around 11:10 p.m.The sole occupant onboard, pilot Ronald Rector, 52, of Linn, was killed. He was based out of the ARCH base in Warrenton. In the NTSB report, it stated that the helicopter “experienced a loss of directional control and entered an uncontrolled descent.”Earlier in the evening, Rector had dropped off a flight nurse, a medic and a patient at the hospital. According to the report, Rector told the flight nurse and medic that “winds were gusting to 25 knots,” or equal to 29 mph. The flight nurse also stated that the “helicopter was yawing quite a bit and there was a noticeable roll side to side” during the landing, meaning that the nose of the copter was moving left and right.The helicopter landed without incident during that first approach.Rector left the hospital to refuel at the ARCH Air Medical Services based, located at 2207 Scott Ave., near Highway 40 and Jefferson Avenue. He was returning to pick up the crew when he crashed, officials said.The NTSB continues to investigate the fatal crash. A final report is not expected to be completed for several months.Wind gusts reported prior to fatal copter crash