The second pilot of an ambiguity helicopter struck a light pole during approach to land at a hospita...

Attributes
ACN	431585
Time
Date	199903
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 75
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 55
ASRS Report	431585
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

En route to hospital for a patient pickup, PF was new to the area, PNF was briefing the PF on the landing area, obstacles and final course for landing. Because of the direction and speed of the winds, the final course would be different from normal, bringing us in over the parking lot. On final, PNF asked if I had the light on top of the windsock pole in sight. I did (which was to the right of the landing pad). On short final, PNF asked if I had the light pole on the right, I did (there was a light pole to the right of the windsock pole). Shortly after that, the PNF said 'pull up, pull up.' the collective was increased and we heard something hit the aircraft. We then landed on the helipad. There was a small dent and a scratch in the paint on the lower left fuselage. There were 2 light poles in the parking lot. The PNF expected us to go between the 2 poles inside the parking lot with one of them on my side (on the right). I never saw the one we contacted. I did see the one on the right (outside the parking lot). During the briefing for landing, numerous obstacles were discussed. I asked the PIC if he wanted to land the aircraft, although I felt comfortable with the approach. He declined. In retrospect, the PIC who was familiar with the landing area should have landed the aircraft. With numerous obstructions in a confined area, it is difficult to brief everything and on the other side, it is difficult to get a mental picture of everything. The potential was great for something much worse than a dent and scratch.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE SECOND PLT OF AN AMB HELI STRUCK A LIGHT POLE DURING APCH TO LAND AT A HOSPITAL DUE TO HIS UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE HELIPAD, AND THE LACK OF DIRECTION BY THE PIC IN THE L SEAT, WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE LNDG AREA.

Narrative: ENRTE TO HOSPITAL FOR A PATIENT PICKUP, PF WAS NEW TO THE AREA, PNF WAS BRIEFING THE PF ON THE LNDG AREA, OBSTACLES AND FINAL COURSE FOR LNDG. BECAUSE OF THE DIRECTION AND SPD OF THE WINDS, THE FINAL COURSE WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM NORMAL, BRINGING US IN OVER THE PARKING LOT. ON FINAL, PNF ASKED IF I HAD THE LIGHT ON TOP OF THE WINDSOCK POLE IN SIGHT. I DID (WHICH WAS TO THE R OF THE LNDG PAD). ON SHORT FINAL, PNF ASKED IF I HAD THE LIGHT POLE ON THE R, I DID (THERE WAS A LIGHT POLE TO THE R OF THE WINDSOCK POLE). SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE PNF SAID 'PULL UP, PULL UP.' THE COLLECTIVE WAS INCREASED AND WE HEARD SOMETHING HIT THE ACFT. WE THEN LANDED ON THE HELIPAD. THERE WAS A SMALL DENT AND A SCRATCH IN THE PAINT ON THE LOWER L FUSELAGE. THERE WERE 2 LIGHT POLES IN THE PARKING LOT. THE PNF EXPECTED US TO GO BTWN THE 2 POLES INSIDE THE PARKING LOT WITH ONE OF THEM ON MY SIDE (ON THE R). I NEVER SAW THE ONE WE CONTACTED. I DID SEE THE ONE ON THE R (OUTSIDE THE PARKING LOT). DURING THE BRIEFING FOR LNDG, NUMEROUS OBSTACLES WERE DISCUSSED. I ASKED THE PIC IF HE WANTED TO LAND THE ACFT, ALTHOUGH I FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THE APCH. HE DECLINED. IN RETROSPECT, THE PIC WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE LNDG AREA SHOULD HAVE LANDED THE ACFT. WITH NUMEROUS OBSTRUCTIONS IN A CONFINED AREA, IT IS DIFFICULT TO BRIEF EVERYTHING AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET A MENTAL PICTURE OF EVERYTHING. THE POTENTIAL WAS GREAT FOR SOMETHING MUCH WORSE THAN A DENT AND SCRATCH.

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.

The second pilot of an ambiguity helicopter struck a light pole during approach to land at a hospital due to his unfamiliarity with the helipad, and the lack of direction by the PIC in the left seat, who was familiar with the landing area.