Narrative:

Dispatched on a lifeguard flight. I was en route to a hospital. The flight was to have been about 4-5 mins. The route was directly over YYY, us, which had closed its tower at XX00. The destination hospital lies just inside the ZZZ class B on the north side (surface area). We usually squawk our discrete transponder code and call approach for class B clearance. This was done, but I was unable to contact ZZZ approach on any of the usual frequencys. I tried on both radios onboard my ship. The helicopter had made 2 flts earlier in the day and the previous pilot did not report any avionics problems at shift change. I have been flying this helicopter for 9 1/2 yrs and am familiar with its radio operations. I spoke with an airplane pilot doing night touch-and-goes at YYY, so I knew my radios were working. ZZZ is only 5 mi farther away. I was unable to raise ZZZ approach after repeated attempts. Due to the critical nature of the injured patient we were responding to, I elected to penetrate class B airspace and land at the hospital. There was no traffic at YYY or ZZZ. My medical crew stated the same thing had occurred 2 other times within the last month with other pilots (there are 4 of us) and at about the same time of night. After landing, I called XXX FSS and reported the problem to a WX briefer. 30 mins later, I lifted off en route back to our hospital. This time, there were no problems raising approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MBK7 HELI PLT ON AN EMS OP USED HIS EMER AUTH TO PENETRATE CLASS B AIRSPACE WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE TRACON APCH CTLR.

Narrative: DISPATCHED ON A LIFEGUARD FLT. I WAS ENRTE TO A HOSPITAL. THE FLT WAS TO HAVE BEEN ABOUT 4-5 MINS. THE RTE WAS DIRECTLY OVER YYY, US, WHICH HAD CLOSED ITS TWR AT XX00. THE DEST HOSPITAL LIES JUST INSIDE THE ZZZ CLASS B ON THE N SIDE (SURFACE AREA). WE USUALLY SQUAWK OUR DISCRETE XPONDER CODE AND CALL APCH FOR CLASS B CLRNC. THIS WAS DONE, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT ZZZ APCH ON ANY OF THE USUAL FREQS. I TRIED ON BOTH RADIOS ONBOARD MY SHIP. THE HELI HAD MADE 2 FLTS EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THE PREVIOUS PLT DID NOT RPT ANY AVIONICS PROBS AT SHIFT CHANGE. I HAVE BEEN FLYING THIS HELI FOR 9 1/2 YRS AND AM FAMILIAR WITH ITS RADIO OPS. I SPOKE WITH AN AIRPLANE PLT DOING NIGHT TOUCH-AND-GOES AT YYY, SO I KNEW MY RADIOS WERE WORKING. ZZZ IS ONLY 5 MI FARTHER AWAY. I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE ZZZ APCH AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. DUE TO THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THE INJURED PATIENT WE WERE RESPONDING TO, I ELECTED TO PENETRATE CLASS B AIRSPACE AND LAND AT THE HOSPITAL. THERE WAS NO TFC AT YYY OR ZZZ. MY MEDICAL CREW STATED THE SAME THING HAD OCCURRED 2 OTHER TIMES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH WITH OTHER PLTS (THERE ARE 4 OF US) AND AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME OF NIGHT. AFTER LNDG, I CALLED XXX FSS AND RPTED THE PROB TO A WX BRIEFER. 30 MINS LATER, I LIFTED OFF ENRTE BACK TO OUR HOSPITAL. THIS TIME, THERE WERE NO PROBS RAISING APCH.

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.