Narrative:

I took off at XA55pm on an EMS hospital transfer flight. We were told another program was also going to this hospital as well; because there were patients that needed to be taken to a level-1 trauma center. We made sure our departure would not conflict with the other helicopter and then proceeded to fly to the sending facility. Around halfway there we heard the other helicopter call lifting off; and we made then aware of our position and that we were inbound. After making sure our course would not be a problem with them; we preceded to the sending hospital. Upon arriving to where our GPS coordinates said it was; I was not able to make visual contact with the hospital. I then enlisted the help of my crew to look for the roof top beacon and pad lights. I also called a local tower and asked if they were familiar with the hospital's location and if they could give me a heading and distance. We proceeded to circle the area; but did not make contact with the hospital. I then called back to our communication center and asked them to contact the hospital to make sure their lights were on. It took about another 5 minutes; but with the help of the tower we eventually found the hospital. I thanked the tower and landed. On landing; I check the coordinates on the GPS and found them to be ok. On getting out I asked security if by chance they had shut off the lights after the first helicopter left. They said they had not; but I cannot prove one way or the other. I believe my effort to not be a collision hazard for the other aircraft and to maintain visual contact with it resulted in me being unable to also keep and maintain my visual contact with the sending hospital. As a result I had to require it with great difficulty and the help of ATC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Medical helicopter had difficulty locating a hospital landing pad during a nighttime operation; listing concern for additional same type operations in the area and lack of pad lighting as possible causal factors.

Narrative: I took off at XA55pm on an EMS hospital transfer flight. We were told another program was also going to this hospital as well; because there were patients that needed to be taken to a Level-1 trauma center. We made sure our departure would not conflict with the other helicopter and then proceeded to fly to the sending facility. Around halfway there we heard the other helicopter call lifting off; and we made then aware of our position and that we were inbound. After making sure our course would not be a problem with them; we preceded to the sending hospital. Upon arriving to where our GPS coordinates said it was; I was not able to make visual contact with the hospital. I then enlisted the help of my crew to look for the roof top beacon and pad lights. I also called a local tower and asked if they were familiar with the hospital's location and if they could give me a heading and distance. We proceeded to circle the area; but did not make contact with the hospital. I then called back to our communication center and asked them to contact the hospital to make sure their lights were on. It took about another 5 minutes; but with the help of the Tower we eventually found the hospital. I thanked the Tower and landed. On landing; I check the coordinates on the GPS and found them to be OK. On getting out I asked security if by chance they had shut off the lights after the first helicopter left. They said they had not; but I cannot prove one way or the other. I believe my effort to not be a collision hazard for the other aircraft and to maintain visual contact with it resulted in me being unable to also keep and maintain my visual contact with the sending hospital. As a result I had to require it with great difficulty and the help of ATC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.