Accident Overview
On Saturday, 12 February 2022, an ambulance helicopter operated from Mariehamn Airport was dispatched to an emergency medical service mission in the municipality of Brändö, Åland. The helicopter crew consisted of a pilot, a flight assistant, and a nurse.
Dispatch and Initial Approach
At 15:33 local time, the Åland emergency center received a call about a person who had fallen and injured themselves on the island of Fiskö. After clarifying the location, the emergency center contacted a health care worker on Brändö island and later decided to dispatch the ambulance helicopter. The crew received notification at 16:00, with the task classified as 745C (fall). Initially, the helicopter was given coordinates for a helipad on Korsö island, but at 16:10, the emergency center informed the crew that the patient was on Fiskö island, unable to be moved to Korsö. New coordinates were provided: 60°27.1315' N, 20°56.1865' E, approximately five kilometers northwest of the original helipad.
Descent and Landing
The helicopter descended to 500 feet (150 m) about eight kilometers from the destination. The crew had been told that a person at the scene would wave a white cloth to help identify the location. After two passes, the site was spotted. The pilot assessed a yard near a house as suitable for landing, despite challenges from buildings, a power line, and trees, but with obstacle-free approach and takeoff sectors. The pilot conducted a normal approach, decided to continue at the decision point, and hovered. The flight assistant opened the door to check for obstacles and noted a small bush about six meters to the left of the tail. The ground was partially icy. The helicopter appeared stable during landing, but the pilot felt the aircraft was tilted slightly to the right, about 2–3 degrees, well within the 8-degree limit. After touchdown, the engines were set to idle.
Sliding Incident
Shortly after the engines were set to idle, the helicopter began to slide slowly backward across the icy ground. The crew's attention was momentarily drawn to a person approaching from the left, whom the flight assistant signaled to move away. The sliding continued, leading to the accident.
Investigation
The Safety Investigation Authority of Finland (SIAF) conducted an investigation under case number L2022-01. The investigation team was led by Timo Heikkilä and included experts in helicopter operations, aviation safety, rescue services, and maritime affairs. Representatives from the French BEA and Swedish SHK participated under ICAO Annex 13. The investigation aimed to improve general safety and prevent future accidents, not to assign legal liability.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The final investigation report included conclusions and safety recommendations. Recommendations included the use of support units in emergency care tasks, skid anti-skid devices for helicopters, rescue service preparedness and regional organization, and improvements to emergency location and the 112 Suomi app in Åland. Some measures had already been implemented.