Helicopter Incident at Augsburg University Hospital Heliport

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 6 May 2022, a serious incident occurred at the Uniklinikum Augsburg heliport. The aircraft involved was an Airbus Helicopters EC135 P2+, a twin-engine light multi-purpose helicopter with a maximum takeoff mass of 2,910 kg. The specific helicopter was built in 2012, had serial number 1036, and was certified for commercial operations by the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA). Its last airworthiness certificate was issued on 21 January 2022 at 4,551 operating hours. The incident was classified as a serious disturbance with no injuries and no damage to the aircraft or third parties. ## Flight Operations and Event Sequence The rescue helicopter was returning from a primary rescue mission. The crew consisted of the pilot, a rescue assistant (HEMS TC), and an emergency physician. The pilot had announced the landing with an estimated time of arrival to the Augsburg control center, which also notified the heliport observer. During the landing approach to the marked helipad, the pilot hovered the helicopter onto the mobile platform located on the roof helipad. The platform was in its outer position, and the hangar doors were closed. At 09:26 local time, the helicopter touched down on the platform with its nose facing the hangar. Before reducing engine power, the pilot noticed the platform rolling toward the closed hangar doors. He immediately lifted the helicopter off the platform and hovered to the parking position on the helipad. After shutting down the helicopter, a technician from the Uniklinikum informed him that repair work had been performed on the platform during the flight, which included removing the drive motor that also functioned as the platform's brake. ## Personnel and Meteorological Conditions The responsible pilot was 47 years old and held a commercial pilot license for helicopters issued under Part-FCL. He was authorized to act as pilot-in-command of the EC135/635. His license included language proficiency in German and English, with the entry “MCC/VFR.” His Class 1 medical certificate for commercial operations with a single pilot, with the restriction VNL2 (correction of visual acuity exclusively for near vision), was valid until 15 August 2022. He had approximately 4,962 total flight hours, including about 2,214 hours on the EC135. Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable. According to the routine weather report (METAR) from the Augsburg airfield, located approximately 4.5 nautical miles to the northeast, conditions at 09:20 local time were: wind from 040° at 6 knots, visibility greater than 10 km, no clouds below 5,000 ft (CAVOK), temperature 12 °C, dew point 9 °C, and QNH 1,022 hPa. ## Heliport and Mobile Platform The Hubschrauber Sonderlandeplatz Klinikum Augsburg is located on the northwest edge of Augsburg on the roof of the university hospital. It is used exclusively for emergency rescue and transfer flights with prior permission (PPR) from the heliport operator. The heliport includes an air rescue center with a hangar and office space. It features an 18 m x 18 m FATO/TLOF, a helicopter parking area, and a 5.24 m x 7.5 m mobile helicopter platform for moving the stationed helicopter into and out of the hangar. The total area of the heliport, including the hangar, was approximately 1,700 m². The mobile helicopter transport platform had been in use since the heliport began operations in 2014. It was rail-bound, battery-powered, and designed with a “station” in the outer position. In the outer position, the distance from the center of the platform's turntable to the hangar doors was approximately 16 m. The platform was driven by a battery-powered 28-V DC electric motor and a chain drive. The motor had an electric motor brake. When power was applied to the motor, the brake released. Without power, the brake locked. The braking effect was transmitted via the chain drive to the wheel set. The platform had an emergency release to decouple the motor from the chain wheel, allowing the platform to be moved manually. To secure the platform, i.e., to achieve braking, the motor had to be re-engaged. With the motor removed or absent, the platform had no brake. According to the air rescue center operator, there had been recurring problems with the drive and the construction and functionality of the platform over the years. The day before the incident, the drive battery had been replaced. On the day of the incident, the platform, including the helicopter, was electrically moved to the outer position and braked in the usual manner without power. ## Organizational and Regulatory Context In 2012, the responsible state aviation authority issued approval under § 6 of the Luftverkehrsgesetz (LuftVG) for the establishment and operation of a helicopter special landing site with an air rescue station on the roof of the Klinikum Augsburg. According to the state aviation authority, technical installations such as the mobile helicopter transport platform were not subject to inspection under the aviation approval. The installation operator was responsible for carrying out all necessary inspections and obtaining permits and approvals. It was generally sufficient, with regard to the safety of flight operations, to demonstrate the functionality of these installations during the aviation acceptance. In 2020, the maintenance contract with the platform manufacturer expired. The new maintenance company identified a number of structural defects during its first inspection that could lead to a reduction in operational safety. Therefore, according to the Klinikum, a new platform was planned for procurement in the near future. ## Safety Measures and Recommendations Following the incident, a meeting was held on 12 May 2022 between the air rescue center operator, the responsible university hospital, and the platform maintenance company. The following safety measures were decided: - The platform will be equipped with a mechanical locking system. - The platform will receive a removable handle so that it can be moved with a so-called Helimover in the event of a drive failure. - A new platform will be procured and the existing one replaced as soon as possible, by mid-2023 at the latest. - The operator's other air rescue centers will be informed internally about the incident. The investigation was conducted in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 and the German Flugunfall-Untersuchungs-Gesetz (FlUUG). The sole purpose of the investigation is the prevention of future accidents and incidents. It does not serve to establish fault, liability, or claims.