Irish Air Corps Air Ambulance involved in accident today

[kilo delta]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingne ... 55914.html

An Air Corps ambulance has crashed in county Tipperary, injuring three crew members.

It is understood the helicopter came down in the past hour and a spokesperson for the Department of Defence has said there were no fatalities in the crash.

There were three staff, but no patients, on board at the time of the accident.

However, the extent of the crews' injuries are not yet known and a further statement is expected shortly.

[tom in weston]

Three Air Corps crew injured as helicopter crashes

on 19/06/2012 16:05:45



The Air Corps' new air ambulance has crashed in county Tipperary, injuring three crew members.

It is understood the helicopter came down in the past hour and a spokesperson for the Department of Defence has said there were no fatalities in the crash.

The aircraft, an EC145, only began operations earlier this month.

The incident is believed to have happened near Borrisoleigh earlier this afternoon and emergency services are at the scene.

There were three staff, but no patients, on board at the time of the accident.

However, the extent of the crews' injuries are not yet known and a further statement is expected shortly.

[kilo delta]

Three crew members were uninjured after an Aer Corps air ambulance was forced to make a heavy-landing in County Tipperary earlier today.

The incident happened near the town of Borrisoleigh at around 3pm.

Emergency services remain at the scene.

It's unclear what happened to the helicopter - an EC135 - which only began operating as a full-time air ambulance for the HSE on June 4.

A further statement on the incident is expected soon.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/thre ... 55914.html


They got the a/c type right this time

Apparently the heavy landing was due to a wire strike.

[hugoj_air]

A little bit of censorship going on?? Both news reports shown are not now giving coverage of the "crash".
On the six o'clock news the 135 was sitting in a field and looked to be undamaged and upright.

Hugo.

[vanman]

The skids are flattened an there appears to be crumpling on the fuselage and that's just what we can see in the photos. As heavy landings go, it looks more like a crash to me. That helicopter won't be back in service anytime soon if ever.

That will be the end of this air ambulance experiment. With only one other 135 in service it won't be viable. So much for saving money by not setting up a proper HEMS service.

[kilo delta]

Yep..the skids took a pounding, obviously a high vertical decent rate. I'm surprised that the rotor didn't come in contact with the tail boom...must be a pretty rigid system. I too can't see it being repaired, so unless the IAC switch to using an AW139 for the role I can't see how a single EC135 (without any backup/reserve a/c)can fulfil the air ambulance role.


Incidentally, who chooses the medevac site? IAC crew or the paramedics/ground crew?

[kilo delta]

Found a pic of the a/c (#270) here.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/patflynn/7403305984/

[vanman]

Incidentally, who chooses the medevac site? IAC crew or the paramedics/ground crew?

Pilot in command.

[michael747]

Yet another demonstration of the skill of a ''pilot'' produced by the Air Corps. Well done