Irish report recommends more paramedics be equipped with TETRA radios after air ambulance incident
The recommendation is contained in a report into a hard-landing by an Air Corps air ambulance in Co Tipperary on 19 June, 2012.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit in Ireland has recommended that more paramedics be equipped with radios to alert helicopter pilots of potential dangers on the ground.
The recommendation is contained in a report into a hard-landing by an Air Corps air ambulance in Co Tipperary on 19 June, 2012. after the helicopter struck an ESB power cable, while landing in a field near Borrisoleigh. It was attempting to pick up an elderly patient at a crossroads.
The helicopter was heavily damaged but none of the three crew were injured.
The report says that the pilot had less than a second to react after crew members spotted a cable in front of the helicopter as it came in to land.
The investigation found that all procedures had been followed correctly by the pilot.
It recommends that the use of Tetra radios be expanded among paramedics in order to provide direct communications with pilots at patient pick-up points.
The report found that a paramedic had seen the power cables prior to the accident, but was unable to alert the pilot.
It also notes that the crew member on the left-hand side of the helicopter had a less than optimal view of the landing site.
The report notes that this could have been remedied had a second counter-clockwise pattern been flown.
