EMS EC135 had hard landing on helipad

[Flying Bull]

Hi all,

an EMS EC135 - due top the newspaper - had engine trouble and landed hard from about 8 meters above the landing pad on the roof-landing-area of an hospital.
The bird was later recovered by crane.
No injuries.
Rettungshubschrauber unsanft gelandet - Notfallpatient an Bord | Westfälische Nachrichten - Für Münster und das Münsterland - Top-Thema 1 (http://www.westfaelische-nachrichten.de/aktuelles/top_thema_1/1239019_Rettungshubschrauber_unsanft_gelandet_Notfallpatient _an_Bord.html)

Greetings Flying Bull

[Brilliant Stuff]

I seem to remember from groundschool that the 135 can survive a drop from 30 feet or so. :D

But do correct me if I am wrong.

[Phil77]

Small correction to your statement Flying Bull:
It wasn't a roof-top pad, the pad across the ENT clinic and the trauma center is ground level.

That is my hometown btw. and I have actually worked there as a paramedic years ago.
This statement is not intended to come across as "I told you so its gonna happen", but it struck me two years ago (or three), seeing that very a/c come in to land, why they never cut the trees down around the pad ( Jungeblodtplatz, West 48149 Münster, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany - Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&q=Jungeblodtplatz,+West+48149+M%C3%BCnster,+Nordrhein-Westfalen,+Germany&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&hl=en&cd=1&geocode=FSDTGAMdW_9zAA&split=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=23.875,57.630033&hq=&hnear=Jungeblodtplatz,+West+48149+M%C3%BCnster,+Nordrhein-Westfalen,+Germany&t=h&z=16) )... I mean up to 60 ft tall trees (my estimate) surrounding the pad and all that CAT I stuff in europe seems contradictory.
I understand that on scene landings often require towering takeoffs (max. perf. t/o - however you like), but why asking for it in case of a hospital pad.

I know, here in the US hospitals are more reluctant to costly improvements stating: "your competitor doesn't find it too dangerous to land almost always with a tailwind over 30 feet unlighted poles at night..." but in germany there is hardly any competition?!

[kcopter]

Hi Phil77,

I just happend to have passed the LZ a few days ago. The trees are there but by the means good airmenship negligeble for standard approaches.The only hassle would be the approach into a northern direction as the hospital building is obstructing a normal glide path, elswise you won't face much inconvenience on this plot. The local newspapers were rather convinced of a sudden power decrease and even described trubine problems. Anyhow the patient onboard the flight seems to have sustained no further injuries from the harsch landing so there would probably only be minor investigations on the incedent.

see visual referance (http://www.bing.com/maps/?FORM=Z9LH2#JndoZXJlMT1Eb21hZ2tzdHJhJWMzJTlmZSs1JTJjKzQ4MTQ5 K00lYzMlYmNuc3RlciUyYysmYmI9NTIuMTgxMDA5MDkzODc4OCU3ZTguMjU2 Mzk2NTc2NzYyMiU3ZTUxLjc0MzUzMDkxMjAyMjglN2U2Ljk3OTIzNTkzMjIz MDk1)

[Phil77]

kcopter:
Didn't know Bing had aerial shots of germany already!

Besides that you are referring to the wrong pad I believe - try: "Jungeblodtplatz, 48149 Münster" (can't put that f*ing link in to safe my life! ;) ) - you are probably right, from the aerial shot it doesn't look all that bad...
It was looking a lot tighter from my vantage point across the street back then - maybe they did cut a few trees out in the meantime, or my eyesight is crooked, doesn't matter I guess! :ok:

[sky2000]

Hi kcopter, you may be right with your conclusion regarding the height of the trees around the landing area, although the images on bing.com are at least 2 years old and the trees are higher now. But ...on your pass a few days ago, did you notice the new building (height I guess about 100 ft with a construction crane 150ft right next to it) between the Kardinal-von-Galen Ring and Robert Koch Strasse that restricts eastern approaches. In this area the wind usually blows from the west. To land on this spot you have to accept a 70-90° crosswind from the left or 45° from the right most of the time. Due to high obstructions in the departure sector on both approaches the LDP has got to be pretty high. If your engine goes tits-up ya don´t have much time and landing area left to fool around. In my opinion BRAVO ZULU to the pilot. Fly safe