Date: 202102
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: SFO.Tower, CA
Flight conditions: IMC
Aircraft: Helicopter
Operator: Air Taxi
Operating under: Part 135
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Ambulance
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class B SFO
ATC / advisory: Tower SFO
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Flight Data / Clearance Delivery; Supervisor / CIC
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Contributing factors: Airspace Structure; Chart Or Publication; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Aircraft X called Local Control for departure IFR. The aircraft was cleared via the SID and this was reiterated at Local Control when they were released. With their release; Local Control also advised them to remain north of the runway for an aircraft rolling out as well as the next arrival. The aircraft departed and was transferred to TRACON. I observed an unsafe proximity to terrain as this aircraft was climbing form 800 ft. to 900 ft. on the update when it grabbed my attention. The aircraft was approximately 3 miles northwest of the airport and approaching the hillside. I called over to the coordinator fir the two departure sectors and brought their attention to the aircraft and asked if they check on them. This seemed to startle the coordinator who said they would check. About twenty seconds later the Low Altitude Alert went off showing 1;100 ft. and I can only assume Aircraft X was IMC as I could not see them out of the window. Still progressing towards the hillside. The aircraft then began to turn to the west and away from the hillside. The coordinator called back; which goes directly to Local Control; and said the pilot understood they were to remain north of the course. Local Control explained what they had told the aircraft and all was back to normal. With the wind we were having they would have drifted north a little anyway; but this was a lot of drifting; so this statement made sense. Around this time; the Supervisor came back; as I was starting an incident report. I called TRACON Supervisor and asked if they were filing anything on this event. They said no because there is no climb gradient on the SID. But there is and I do not believe this aircraft was meeting it. I left it at that and said I was filing a report. When I filled out the report I entered 800 ft. for the required and observed altitudes because that was the first altitude I saw. The pilot should have understood what was issued and to not over fly the runway. I do not know if this would be considered a Pilot Deviation; but I have a hunch it was: The vector SID has a required climb gradient. They were near that; but I do not believe they were legally meeting it and off course.




Synopsis: Tower Controller in Charge reported they observed a helicopter deviate from its assigned route and did not climb in accordance with SID climb requirements and flew below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude.