Serious Incident Involving an Airbus Helicopters EC135P2+ in Mostki (SP-HXP)

Incident Overview and Flight History On 15 May 2021, the Polish State Commission for Aviation Accident Investigation (PKBWL) issued its final report on serious incident 2021/1144. The event involved an Airbus Helicopters EC135P2+ helicopter, registration SP-HXP, operated by the Polish Medical Air Rescue (LPR). The incident occurred in Mostki, located on the route between Płock and Włocławek, approximately 32.5 km from the Płock base. At 16:20 local time, the on-duty crew, consisting of a professional pilot, a medical rescuer, and a doctor, was dispatched to a motorcycle accident. The helicopter departed at 16:26. The flight to the scene and the initial landing were uneventful. The pilot landed on a clearing selected by the fire service, then repositioned the aircraft near the accident site. After the patient was transferred to the helicopter, the pilot prepared for departure. ## Takeoff and Contact with a Tree The pilot elected to perform a VTOL1 takeoff. During the climb with simultaneous backward movement, the helicopter's main rotor blades contacted a tree. The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff and landed at the departure point without further consequences. The report notes that the helicopter was heavy enough that it stopped climbing at 70 ft, prompting the pilot to increase collective pitch. This action caused an exceedance of the permissible torque, triggering a warning gong. The pilot's attention became focused on the engine parameters, during which the helicopter unintentionally rotated and moved toward the tree. ## Damage and Findings The contact with the tree resulted in damage to four rotor blades. Specifically, paint damage reaching the laminate was found on three blades, and the trailing edge was delaminated over a length of approximately 10 cm on two blades. No other damage was reported. ## Probable Cause and Contributing Factors The PKBWL determined that the probable cause of the serious incident was a pilot error involving an improper division of attention during the VTOL1 takeoff. This led to an unintentional movement of the helicopter, resulting in the rotor blades contacting the tree. Contributing factors included a malfunction of the YAW SAS in the autopilot deflection system and incomplete crew coordination. The investigation concluded without issuing safety recommendations.