What are the acceptable limits for wind and wind sheer during helicopter air ambulance flights in America. Is there a gust limit or spread noted or does it depend on how much the crew of the day can handle?

medical crews have trouble with all weather, I you asked them for a weather check just cancel the flight .

How do you know all of them do?

40mph and or 15mph gust spread for starts.  I saw an A-Star at ABI chop off the tailboom while cranking the engine with 15mph gusts. 

if that was the gust spread what was the velocity.  If 15 knots was the velocity I would have to call you on that one !!!

ATIS was reporting 30 gusting to 45, but I'm pretty sure the gusts were closer to 20+ 

Non-sense!

RFM boys & girls!

Wind shear at altitude doesn't effect a helicopter! Just another excuse to turn down a flight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQLNS3HWfCM

Limits depend on your location. The windy city has different limits than Kansas.

your offshore ones by @40% and you'll probably get few complaints.

Simple answer is RFM

More complete answer is RFM, along with GOM and OPS SPECS for the operator, and experince/personal limits...  

Just my thoughts...  

What are the acceptable limits for wind and wind sheer during helicopter air ambulance flights in America. Is there a gust limit or spread noted or does it depend on how much the crew of the day can handle?

For some reason, 40 kts and 15 gusts stick in memory. A lot depends on where you're going- I recall trying to land on a level one rooftop pad with clear overhangs on 2 sides and solid structure on the other two. The wind was 30 knots but from the sides with stuctures above the pad. It was too turbulent on the pad to land, so I went across the street to a surface pad where ground transport met us.

16 years offshore, lots of operations in higher winds, that was a surprise.

to start 212 offshore up to 55knots with ground crews holding blade to 40% then releasing.  Wind was usually ur friend unless in unfavorable quarters.  Wail away there all experts!

no possible way jose

Just wrong.

You're very wrong sonny boy.

-pilots trying to fly

-pilots trying to find a reason not to fly

It really is just that simple.

in the morning, trying to fly. in the afternoon, trying not to fly. at night, trying not to fly. 

as simple as u.

My two cents...First off, check your RFM and GOM.  AS365 limits...you can start with winds up to 55kts within 20 degrees off the nose.  Our EC155 limits are winds up to 35 kts.

Secondly, check your personal limits. If you attempt to land at an elevated pad and the wind gusts along with the orographic turbulence is too much to complete a safe landing, find somewhere else to land or abort the flight. Much rather have an aborted flight, than a damaged aircraft or hurt crewmember.

just in case you didn't know, it's better to not crash then to crash. and watch out for that mountain turbulance when landing at a hospital.

Takes one etc.

Not anymore