What happened
On May 6, 2022, an Airbus Helicopters EC135 P2+ was returning from a primary emergency medical mission to the rooftop helipad at the University Hospital Augsburg. The crew, consisting of the pilot, a flight paramedic, and an emergency physician, had coordinated the landing with the hospital's control center and landing pad observer.
The pilot executed a landing on a mobile helicopter transport platform positioned at the outer station of the pad. At approximately 09:26 local time, as the aircraft touched down with its nose facing the hangar, the pilot noticed the platform had begun rolling toward the closed hangar doors. To avoid a collision, the pilot immediately initiated a go-around, lifting the helicopter back into the air and maneuvering it to a secure parking position on the landing pad.
There were no injuries and no damage to the aircraft or the hangar.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the mechanical state of the mobile platform and the braking mechanism. The platform is a rail-bound, battery-operated system used to move helicopters into the hangar. The investigation established that the platform's braking function relies on an electric motor; when the motor is powered, the brake releases, and when power is removed, the brake engages.
At the time of the incident, a technician had been performing repairs on the platform, which included removing the electric motor. Because the motor also serves as the platform's brake, its removal left the platform without a functional braking mechanism. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the maintenance contract for the platform had expired in 2020, and a subsequent inspection by a new maintenance provider had identified several structural deficiencies that could compromise operational safety.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the absence of a braking mechanism on the mobile platform due to the removal of the electric motor for repairs.
- The platform's design relies on the motor to act as the brake, meaning the system is inherently unbraked when the motor is disconnected.
- The platform had previously shown signs of mechanical and design issues, and a new maintenance provider had identified various structural flaws.
- There is a lack of standardized international specifications or regulatory requirements for the design and safety of mobile helicopter transport platforms.