After takeoff on the fifth flight during a 12 hours shift; an agusta 109E helicopter pilot inadverte...

Attributes
ACN	954870
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A109 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Engine Control
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 6000 Flight Crew Type 6000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

After lift off from a field site on a medical transport for the flight to the receiving hospital; I was configuring the aircraft for cruise flight to include landing gear; parking brake off; and rotor rpm. I was about to make the radio call to the flight dispatch when there was a change in engine noise. A quick check of instruments showed that an engine had gone into idle. I check the engine control switch and saw that it was in the idle position. I immediately returned it to flight. The engine power was restored and the mission was completed. This was the fifth flight of the 12 hour shift and the second consecutive medical scene flight before returning to the base hospital. I do not recall how and when I moved the engine control switch. I reported this serious incident to the chief pilot; and notified the company safety officer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After takeoff on the fifth flight during a 12 hours shift; an Agusta 109E helicopter pilot inadvertently moved the Engine Control Switch to the Idle position. He caught the error quickly when the engine sound changed.

Narrative: After lift off from a field site on a medical transport for the flight to the receiving hospital; I was configuring the aircraft for cruise flight to include landing gear; parking brake off; and rotor rpm. I was about to make the radio call to the flight dispatch when there was a change in engine noise. A quick check of instruments showed that an engine had gone into idle. I check the engine control switch and saw that it was in the idle position. I immediately returned it to flight. The engine power was restored and the mission was completed. This was the fifth flight of the 12 hour shift and the second consecutive medical scene flight before returning to the base hospital. I do not recall how and when I moved the engine control switch. I reported this serious incident to the Chief Pilot; and notified the company Safety Officer.

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.

After takeoff on the fifth flight during a 12 hours shift; an agusta 109E helicopter pilot inadvertently moved the engine control switch to the idle position. He caught the error quickly when the engine sound changed.