Flight Crew Rotorcraft; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
Received a flight request at about XA:30. I built the risk assessment on the iPad and didn't push send because I was waiting for our com center to send the flight to ZZZ. I went and talked with the flight crew to make sure that they would be comfortable with the thunderstorms out west and go over the risk assessment with them. They ended up being fine with the flight and I accepted it at XA:35. As I was walking through the com center I was told that there was a drone operating in one of the parking lots next to helipad and that the com center was going to call to have them stop operations. This was the biggest distraction for me. I knew nothing about any scheduled drone activity. When I lifted off I called the control tower and asked if they had been informed that there was a drone operating in their airspace. They also were unaware of the drone. The control tower said they would call the state police. Once I was clear of the hospital and no longer worried about the drone I realized I forgot to push send on the iPad for my risk assessment and wait for approval. I had my com center call and let them know. [Control] told them I would need to call in. Once I landed at the scene I shut down and called. [Control] got the flight approved and we finished the fight. The only thing I would say is maybe have my com center ask if I have sent in my risk assessment when I'm walking out the door. But this is not their responsibility and the fault is mine 100%. I got distracted and forgot to push send and wait for the approval from [Control].
Medevac helicopter pilot reported being advised of a UAV which was operating in the vicinity of his proposed flight path. This information caused him to be distracted which resulted in his non-compliance with company risk assessment procedures.