Helicopter
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Airspace Violation All Types
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Declared Emergency; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action; General Police / Security Involved
Aircraft; Airport
I was flying a patient to the hospital with our base Nurse and a Medic on board. The Tower had cleared me across the large airport located on the direct route to the hospital. While I was over the military portion of the airport ramp; the Tail Rotor Gear Box Chip Light illuminated. I declared an emergency with Tower and requested to land on the ramp immediately under the aircraft; which happened to be a restricted area on the ramp. They gave me permission to land and asked if I needed any assistance. I landed the aircraft without further incident. CFR and Security Forces responded after we landed. We coordinated with a surface Ambulance Company to pick up the patient and they did so with half an hour. I coordinated with the Security Forces for the arrival of our Maintenance crew to repair the aircraft.
The Captain of an air ambulance helicopter flight; overflying a military installation; received a Tail Rotor Gearbox Chip Detector warning; declared an emergency and successfully requested and completed an emergency landing on the military ramp directly beneath them.