AIR AMBULANCE FLT EXCEEDED FLT AND DUTY LIMITATIONS.

Narrative

FLC WAS CALLED IN ON SHORT NOTICE FOR A RUSH AIR AMBULANCE FLT FROM KPHF TO KFXE TO PICK UP MEDICS; THEN TO MMLO; MEXICO; FOR PATIENT PICKUP; TO KMSY FOR FUEL STOP; THEN TO KSYR TO DROP OFF PATIENT AND CREW REST. TRIP WAS PLANNED FOR 9 PLUS 50 FLT TIME (VERY CLOSE TO THE 10 HR LIMIT) AND 13 HRS DUTY TIME. MUCH HIGHER THAN EXPECTED HEADWINDS ON THE SECOND LEG OF THIS TRIP NECESSITATED AN ADDITIONAL FUEL STOP AT KMSY ENRTE TO MMLO. THE CREW WAS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN COORD OF ALL CHANGES AND NOTIFICATIONS THIS EXTRA STOP REQUIRED INCLUDING CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION AND FAILED TO REALIZE FLT AND DUTY TIMES WOULD NOW BE EXCEEDED. THE FLC WAS COMMUNICATING WITH COMPANY DISPATCH BUT THERE HAD BEEN A SHIFT CHANGE AND THE NEW DISPATCHER DID NOT REALIZE THERE WAS A TOTAL TIME PROB. THE CREW FINALLY ENDED UP WITH 10:50 BLOCK TIME AND 16 HR DUTY TIME. 50 MINS OVER FLT TIME AND 2 HRS OVER DUTY TIME PER FAR 135. FLC ERRED BY BEING TOO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TIME REQUIRED ON GND FOR CUSTOMS AND FUELING AND BE EXPECTING A FORECASTED TAILWIND TO DEVELOP. COMPANY ERRED BY DROPPING THE FLT FOLLOWING BALL. BOTH THE COMPANY AND THE FLCS HAVE RETRAINED ON FLT AND DUTY REQUIREMENTS AND BOTH HAVE SET UP BETTER PROCS FOR TRACKING ONGOING TIMES AGAINST LIMITS.