EMS helicopter pilot departs ZZZ on medical emergency mission with inoperative battery.

Attributes
ACN	144672
Time
Date	199005
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 280
ASRS Report	144672
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

We were paged for a flight to xyz, about 9 mi south of ZZZ, for a drowning victim. When I attempted to start the aircraft I found that the battery was dead. I got the APU battery cart, plugged it in and started both engines. Both generators came on line and I unplugged the battery cart; however, the battery light on the caution panel remained illuminated. Considering this to be an emergency situation I chose to disconnect the battery terminal to prevent any problems with a possible defective battery. We departed, picked up the patient and returned west/O incident. Using the authority/authorized granted under far 135.19, I departed west/O an operating battery as required under the minimum equipment requirements for our aircraft, far 135.179.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMS HELICOPTER PLT DEPARTS ZZZ ON MEDICAL EMERGENCY MISSION WITH INOPERATIVE BATTERY.

Narrative: WE WERE PAGED FOR A FLT TO XYZ, ABOUT 9 MI S OF ZZZ, FOR A DROWNING VICTIM. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ACFT I FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I GOT THE APU BATTERY CART, PLUGGED IT IN AND STARTED BOTH ENGS. BOTH GENERATORS CAME ON LINE AND I UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY CART; HOWEVER, THE BATTERY LIGHT ON THE CAUTION PANEL REMAINED ILLUMINATED. CONSIDERING THIS TO BE AN EMER SITUATION I CHOSE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TERMINAL TO PREVENT ANY PROBS WITH A POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE BATTERY. WE DEPARTED, PICKED UP THE PATIENT AND RETURNED W/O INCIDENT. USING THE AUTH GRANTED UNDER FAR 135.19, I DEPARTED W/O AN OPERATING BATTERY AS REQUIRED UNDER THE MINIMUM EQUIP REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR ACFT, FAR 135.179.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.