Date: 201605
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: EC135
Operator: Air Taxi
Mission: Ambulance
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Aircraft component: Turbine Engine
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Taxi
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Workload
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Procedure; Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Last night of my shift; landed for patient pickup at XA:56 with flight nurses on board. Upon landing; the nurses notified me that they had just been contacted by EMS on the VHF radio and that the patient had expired and we were no longer needed. Everyone remained seated and belted as we discussed that we hadn't heard anything yet from Operations and about how best to contact them. The crew members tried and were able to receive them on the ground and confirmed cancellation. This all took place quickly. I confirmed with crew that they were ready to lift and began to pull pitch when I noticed the Yellow Caution Light start to flash. Having just reached a low hover; I saw that only one engine was in fly and set the aircraft back down. I then realized that as a matter of habit; I must have begun to shut down on landing and only placed engine #2 in idle as we were being notified of cancellation.After full skids down there were no caution; warning lights or exceedances. I returned engine #2 to fly; and stopped to verify that there was no exceedance. I verified caution panel and instruments and continued with departure and return flight. After landing at base; upon placing engines in idle and after shut down; there were no exceedances on caution advisory display.After fueling the aircraft at base I had the master battery on to check fuel level and decided to double check the CAD. After start up; FADEC #1 illuminated an 'Engine Exceed' light on the number one engine.  The discrepancy was noted in the aircraft log book; duty mechanic responded and aircraft was placed out of service with dispatch.  The aircraft being flown was our backup EC-135. Obviously; I am solely at fault for not exercising better situational awareness.  This situation could have been avoided if I had not interrupted the process of going from flight to idle; something I don't think I have ever done before; and then re-initiated a complete pre-takeoff check.




Synopsis: An EC-135 EMS pilot landed for patient pickup; but because the patient had expired; the flight returned to base. The pilot started his takeoff with an engine in idle; but landed immediately; returned the engine to fly and departed. Upon arrival he discovered a CAD FADEC #1 'ENGINE EXCEED' alert so the aircraft was removed from service.