Helicopter
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Rotorcraft; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Type 5500
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
Captain for air ambulance was on a training flight and had put his EMS base on a 15 minute delay in case the base received a call from dispatch. Captain submitted a risk assessment for the training flight and checked the box for 'accepts change to mission'. 5 minutes after departing on training flight; base received an air ambulance operation; pilot returned to base; picked up crew and departed. Upon landing at the community hospital; the Captain attempted to complete a new risk assessment; but could not get the iPad tablet to have connectivity (rural area). Med crew came out of ER with patient; Captain started aircraft and flew to trauma center. Captain forgot to attempt to complete the risk assessment at that location. Entire crew flew back to base and the Captain filled out a risk assessment for the entire patient flight upon return to base. It has been determined that the Captain did not intend to circumnavigate the risk process and acted in good faith. The Captain received counseling from his immediate supervisor on how to appropriately handle this type of situation if it happens again.
Air ambulance helicopter pilot reported a failure to complete the flight risk assessment process due to iPad communication problems in a rural area.