Air corps air ambulance crashes no fatalities

Reg'stoy

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/three-air-corps-crew-injured-as-helicopter-crashes-555914.html

Just heard on the radio, best wishes to all onboard.

Klunk001

Glad all ok, officially launched just over two weeks. What can you say

Delta Kilo

I presume this is one of the AW139s.

Hope all crew are ok.

typera12

Its an EC-135 that crashed

Nforce

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/three-air-corps-crew-injured-as-helicopter-crashes-555914.html

The Air Corps' new air ambulance has crashed in county Tipperary, injuring three crew members.

It is understood the helicopter came down in the past hour and a spokesperson for the Department of Defence has said there were no fatalities in the crash.

The aircraft, an EC145, only began operations earlier this month.

The incident is believed to have happened near Borrisoleigh earlier this afternoon and emergency services are at the scene.

There were three staff, but no patients, on board at the time of the accident.

However, the extent of the crews' injuries are not yet known and a further statement is expected shortly.

Most likely the EC135 was involved. Glad that no-one is seriously injured.

Oscar Mike in 5 Mikes

Just one of those things... the other 135 will slot into its place I would imagine. Glad to hear the crew are OK.

Nforce

Three crew members were uninjured after an Aer Corps air ambulance was forced to make a heavy-landing in County Tipperary earlier today.

The incident happened near the town of Borrisoleigh at around 3pm.

Emergency services remain at the scene.

It's unclear what happened to the helicopter - an EC135 - which only began operating as a full-time air ambulance for the HSE on June 4.

A further statement on the incident is expected soon.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/three-air-corps-crew-injured-as-helicopter-crashes-555914.html

kona

Were these the helicopters with the AD referring to cracks in rotors?

cocoshovel

Waterford SAR said on friendface that it was a wire strike.

christmas2012

yeah it did an emergency land in a field

Morpheus

Klunk001 wrote: »

Glad all ok, officially launched just over two weeks. What can you say

:rolleyes: could have happened to anyone? bad luck maybe? wont say anything until the investigation is done.

Preset No.3

2 words been thrown about, and there is a difference. Hard Landing and Crash.

Crey86

Looking at the pictures I'd say crash. It'll be a long time before that aircraft is flying again.
Glad to see everyone got out ok.

Scone190

Some good photos here of the helicopter if anyone hasnt seen already
http://www.flickr.com/photos/patflynn/7403305984/in/photostream/

mickptre

Preset No.3 wrote: »

2 words been thrown about, and there is a difference. Hard Landing and Crash.

So, what is the difference? it has sustained serious structural damage and whether its a hard landing or a crash, 270 is going nowhere very soon.

Trotter

With the buckling that can be seen in some photos, is it likely that the aircraft is beyond repair? If its written off would the air corps have insurance to replace it!?

EchoIndia

The State does not take out insurance in relation to such assets. It would have to pay to replace or repair the aircraft if this was deemed necessary and affordable.

Klunk001

No punches being pulled on this site :eek:

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/488417-irish-air-corp-hems-accident.html

kub

That crew must have sore bums after that. As this is a military aircraft, do the AAIU still investigate this accident or is it done in house by Aer Corp?

I am just comparing it to say situations where army Military Police officers are often seen checking speeds of military vehicles, akin to gardai. But AFAIK, Gardai cannot prosecte army drivers in official army vehicles for speeding.....anyway thats for another thread.

whyulittle

Is this back in the air yet? I saw a EC135 over Athlone today.

Also I was at a football match involving the Army on Monday, and overheard someone behind me talking about a load of equipment coming in for the Air Ambulance during the week. I didn't catch it all unfortunately!

westdub

The airframe is back with Eurocopter waiting for a space on the production line so it can be put in assembly jigs and rebuilt.......
It wont be flying again for some considerable time.....

Klunk001

whyulittle wrote: »

Is this back in the air yet? I saw a EC135 over Athlone today.

Also I was at a football match involving the Army on Monday, and overheard someone behind me talking about a load of equipment coming in for the Air Ambulance during the week. I didn't catch it all unfortunately!

I did hear talk a while back about a hanger being purchased for Athlone ops. Could probably be doing with one. Leaving it on the ramp all day at this time of the year isn't clever.

whyulittle

Sounds like that might be it alright, thanks.

Heard about containers of stuff, and goes together like Meccano. Probably should have pieced it together myself (excuse the pun!).

bluecode

Don't imagine a hangar is needed in Athlone. In any case the helicopter is tucked up back in it's hangar in Bal every night. The second reason is that this air ambulance idea isn't going to last. The next time they break one it will be finished once and for all.

Cork boy 55

At what point did it strike the wires during a landing or normal flight

Klunk001

Klunk001 wrote: »

I did hear talk a while back about a hanger being purchased for Athlone ops. Could probably be doing with one. Leaving it on the ramp all day at this time of the year isn't clever.

New hangar now up and running in Athlone for the 139 operation.

bluecode

Hmm, waste of money in my opinion. It's not likely to last.

Mind you Galway airport management are living in an entirely different fantasy world.

He also confirmed that the airport was in talks over a contract for fire fighting training, which could be worth “in excess of €200,000”, and was investigating whether the emergency air ambulance for the West, currently situated at Baldonnell, could be relocated to Galway.

http://galwayindependent.com/stories/item/5479/2013-2/Lifeline-for-airport

I really hope that the sanity will prevail and a proper air ambulance is put in place. A real HEMS service. Not this belt and braces and hope to God service.

Peregrine

bluecode wrote: »

Hmm, waste of money in my opinion. It's not likely to last.

Mind you Galway airport management are living in an entirely different fantasy world.

Oh god

He also confirmed that the airport was in talks over a contract for fire fighting training, which could be worth “in excess of €200,000”, and was investigating whether the emergency air ambulance for the West, currently situated at Baldonnell, could be relocated to Galway.

Does that really say currently situated in Baldonnell? It's like they picked something out of a brochure without looking at it and saying "I want that here"

And since when is this service for the West only? Athlone is smack in the middle of Ireland.

I won't be taking anything from the Galway Independant now..

bluecode

Yes it's pure fantasy on the part of the Galway airport management. From the article you can also see they think they'll get €75k each pa for the two hangars there, both lying empty at the moment. Plus up to €250k from visiting aircraft. Not to mention another €200k from firefighter training. Then they think there is a pent up demand for park and ride facilities using their car park. Can't see it myself.

Maybe they think the Air Corps will move in and pay €75k a year for something they get for nothing right now. :rolleyes:

The council were unimpressed and demanded a viable business plan. Deserves a thread of it's own this!

Sniper Alert

I get woken every morning shortly after 8am by the 139 coming in over my apartment to land in Custume Barracks. Its a loud whore of a yoke. It comes in an average of 3 or 4 times a day and heads back to Baldonnel at 6pm. So if your gonna have an accident make sure its between them times!!! :-)

Storm 10

Klunk001 wrote: »

New hangar now up and running in Athlone for the 139 operation.

Is she a permanent fixture in Athlone Barracks now that there is a hanger and full facilities?

Sniper Alert

No,it still flies down from Dublin everyday. If your on facebook search for MEDEVAC 112. It gives regular updates on what they're at along with nice photos

vulcan57

On their facebook page a few weeks ago there was a picture of Medevac 112 at Custume Barracks at night and someone asked the question did she stay there on a regular basis. The reply, from Medevac 112 themselves, was along the lines that there is everything there at Athlone, hangarage, fuel, and mechanical back up for her to stay at Athlone. From there she could fully carry out her duties supporting the HSE in hospital transfers 24 hours a day when needed. Also that Athlone was in effect a satelite heliport to Baldonnel. Unfortunately, I cannot find that post on that page now not sure why.

Klunk001

Storm 10 wrote: »

Is she a permanent fixture in Athlone Barracks now that there is a hanger and full facilities?

With the costs involved setting it up I would like to think it is.

Sniper Alert

Definitely not a permanent fixture... My apartment is across the river from the barracks so I have the pleasure of being woken by him in the morning. And get to see him heading back just before 6pm.

Nforce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-MPlILHHvk

Peregrine

AAIU report: http://www.aaiu.ie/sites/default/files/report-attachments/REPORT%202013-004_0.pdf

Recommends that paramedics on the ground use radios to communicate with the pilots.

iopener

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

AAIU report: http://www.aaiu.ie/sites/default/files/report-attachments/REPORT%202013-004_0.pdf

Recommends that paramedics on the ground use radios to communicate with the pilots.

Ground to air communication what's that.sure my grandda lived to 90 without ground to air communication.only in Ireland would this happen.putting multi million aircraft into service with no comms with ambulance staff.the guy's in the chopper were very lucky they had a good pilot flying that day otherwise it could have been another tramore

Irish Steve

Just skimmed the report, find it incredible that there is no pre organised method for the people on the ground to be able to INSTANTLY be in communication with the aircraft. That said, mobile phones are not exactly hard to use either, although coverage might be a problem in some areas.

Hand held airband would seem to be the simplest solution, a single fixed channel set is not expensive, and one accident has probably cost more than the radio's would have.

Alternatively, a radio in the helicopter that's capable of receiving the transmissions from the ambulance and police channels would make life a lot simpler for all concerned.

What's worrying is that this is another incident in a list that's becoming worryingly long for a relatively small operation that's not working at the extremes of the envelope.

RadioRetro

To add to Irish Steve, it's remarkable the way the service was introduced and expanded rapidly (they go in and out of Galway Hospital almost daily now) and then into SAR duties with very little work-up time. And all this after a ten year contract with CHC comes into effect and they're up-equipping with S92s. Seems a bit of overstretch to me.