AAIB November 2010 released
 

AAIB Report Nov 2010

Air Accidents Investigation: November 2010

Dauphin G-HEMS Air Accidents Investigation: Aerospatiale SA365N Dauphin, G-HEMS

Obviously the stationery wasn't stationary enough.......:E

I have never before considered a ring binder to be a lethal weapon. Must be more cautious next time I am carrying one - don't want to be stopped by Police for being "tooled-up".

The AAIB Bulletin states there were 3 passengers and 1 crew (pilot). Can anyone tell me what is the legal definition of say, 'backseaters' like paramedics, police observers etc ? Or it a simple error in the report ? Many thanks, pp.

As all HEMS operations are operated as CAT flights, everybody except the
pilot are classed as passengers.

Nice little compo claim for someone here I would imagine..

FF

Local press front page coverage
 

2 local papers cover story here.

Asking for name of person injured.

Knocked out by air ambulance (From The Northern Echo)


Folder from 999 copter hits man in Thornaby - Local News - News - Gazette Live

As the door opened a number of items fell out, including a stationery folder, which dropped 700ft and hit a man on Stirling Way in Thornaby. The 24-year-old was knocked unconscious in the June 17 incident.

Air Ambulance - man hurt legal case
 

Man claims against Air Ambulance after being knocked out by falling blood pressure equipment. Latest news after AAIB.

Man taking legal action after 999 copter drama - Local News - News - Gazette Live

Evening Gazette 13th Nov 2010.:ouch:

Same with Uk Police flights as well.

HEMS Flights are flown under a HEMS Approval/Permission/Exemption and can be conducted with suitably qualified HEMScrewmembers (such as paramedics and doctors). Stick a cameraperson onboard for filming such series as Helicopter Heroes and the HEMS exemption cannot be used and it becomes a CAT flight.

CAT flights include Air Ambulance (non emergency medical assistance), Training and Positioning Flights.

Interesting how the article reads that PDG lost the contract as a result of the incident...:rolleyes:

Can the door pins be simply extended or does that need a modification approval?

Hi MisterBonkers

As Flaxton and Mighty say, HEMS is commercial air transport too.

It is, in my view, a ridiculous state of affairs but those are the rules! How we came up with a system that insists that if you want to carry out HEMS single pilot, then you have to carry a 'qualified HEMS crewmember' who has completed a course and line check etc. to help you navigate. However, if you are in a non-SPIFR machine and it turns to night, you are supposed to offload your capable navigator and extra pair of hands and fly back in the dark holding the map and navigating yourself while the poor old paramedic (passenger) has to find his way home from some distant hospital! Well, that has to be safer doesn't it! Rant over.

TeeS

P.S. Good job it wan't a police helicopter, they would have thrown the book at him ;)

Just to clarify a bit....we can undertake a HEMS flight carrying a cameraperson provided we don't need to use any HEMS-specific exemptions or permissions to complete the task. As long as that is the case, the flight will be CAT. Once we start using the Rule 5 exemptions, all the passengers suddenly become crew...except the cameraperson who technically isnt needed for the task.

This is also the case when fllying in and out of a Public Interest Hospital LS, so the cameraperson would get left behind at the incident scene. Of course, we don't enjoy seeing our cameracrew standing at a bus stop in a bright red flightsuit but somebody has to take one for the team.

So..no non-crew members allowed on board when using exemptions, right? Oh...unless....that non-crew member is a relative of the patient (e.g. parent of a kiddie).

So just to see if you have been paying attention - it's CAA Audit day and your Flight Ops Inspector wants to accompany you on a flight. A job comes in - and it's into a built-up city centre area. Can he come along?

FF