[Peetwo]

Final Report AO-2024-046 - Part II 

Attributed to Popinjay, via his media minions...
 

ATSB finalises Cairns hotel helicopter accident investigation

The ATSB has finalised its investigation into an accident involving a Robinson R44 helicopter which struck the roof of a Cairns hotel early in the morning of 12 August 2024.

“The investigation found that the pilot conducted an unauthorised and unnecessary flight at night, while affected by alcohol,” said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell.

“The pilot did not hold the appropriate endorsements to fly at night, did not have any experience flying the R44 at night, and they conducted the flight well below the 1,000 ft minimum height for flight over built up areas.” 

The ATSB finalised the investigation after determining it unlikely that broader safety issues or lessons would be uncovered.

“The ATSB primarily investigates to identify industry systemic safety issues, and to then influence the adoption of targeted actions to reduce future risk,” said Mr Mitchell.

“Our final report published today provides assurance to the Cairns community and the aviation industry that after gathering and analysing the available evidence, there are unlikely to be broader transport safety issues that require addressing to reduce future risk arising from this tragic accident.”

The report details that the pilot was an employee of the helicopter operator, and had gained access to their premises after entering a code into a security door keypad, and then to the hangar and the helicopter. The pilot held valid New Zealand and Australian commercial helicopter pilot licences, and had previously flown R44 helicopters. However, they were employed by the operator as a ground handler, and were not approved to, nor employed to fly the operator’s helicopters.

“Using a combination of CCTV footage, witness accounts, GPS data from the helicopter and air traffic control surveillance radar data, the ATSB was able to develop a detailed sequence of events of the accident flight,” Mr Mitchell said.

Prior to the flight, the pilot had been socialising with friends at various venues in Cairns, where they had been consuming alcohol, the report details. They had returned to their apartment around 11 pm, with CCTV footage showing them driving away from the apartment complex at 1:09 am. CCTV footage from the operator’s hangar showed the pilot moving the helicopter outside onto a helipad just after 1:30 am.

“We know from GPS and air traffic control radar data that the helicopter departed Cairns Airport shortly before 1:47 am, while CCTV footage showed that the helicopter’s strobe lights were turned off by the pilot,” Mr Mitchell said.

After taking off, the helicopter headed south towards the Cairns city centre, flying over the pilot’s apartment building and then tracking to the northern end of the Cairns wharf complex, where it completed an orbit before heading north towards the marina and continuing along the coastline.

After crossing the coastline and flying over the pilot’s apartment a second time, the helicopter circled back towards the foreshore, following it for about 1 km. 

Throughout the flight the helicopter’s altitude did not exceed 500 ft.

“Two security cameras recorded very brief portions of the final part of the flight and showed the helicopter pitching up, then almost immediately descending steeply before colliding into the roof of the hotel at about 1:51 am,” Mr Mitchell said.

“Wreckage distribution and impact marks indicate that the helicopter was inverted at impact.” 

Most of the helicopter came to rest on the hotel roof and was destroyed by impact forces and a fuel-fed post-impact fire. The pilot was fatally injured. 

Parts of the main rotor blade were found in the hotel rooms below the accident site, while the helicopter’s instrument panel, main rotor head and most of the main rotor blades were found within the hotel grounds. A portion of the same main rotor blade that struck the hotel windows was found in parkland across the road.

Fortunately there were no injuries to hotel guests and staff, nor passersby.

“From the available evidence there were no airworthiness factors with the helicopter that likely contributed to the accident,” Mr Mitchell said.

“The flight was a purposeful act, but there was no evidence available to explain the pilot’s intentions.”

Mr Mitchell concluded: “I would like to acknowledge that the nature of this accident is deeply distressing to the pilot’s family, and they have asked that I share with you their request for privacy at this time.”

Read the report: Collision with building involving Robinson R44 II, VH-ERH, at Cairns, Queensland, on 12 August 2024

Publication Date: 10/10/2024

Courtesy the Oz:

Cairns chopper crash pilot affected by alcohol, ATSB report finds

An investigation into a Cairns helicopter crash that killed pilot Blake Wilson, has found he was drunk at the time he “purposefully” undertook the unauthorised flight.

The 23-year-old was working as a ground handler for Nautilus Aviation in Cairns, when he took the Robinson R44 and crashed it into the rooftop of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, early in the morning of August 12.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation revealed toxicology tests showed he had a “significant” blood alcohol content at the time, but was drug free.

Prior to the fateful flight, Mr Wilson had been out with friends to celebrate a new posting with Nautilus Aviation to Horn Island.

CCTV footage showed him drinking at various venues in Cairns, before returning to his apartment about 11pm.

Two hours later, for reasons no-one can fathom, Mr Wilson then got into his car and drove to Cairns Airport, where security cameras showed him moving a helicopter to a helipad.

He turned off the helicopter’s strobe lights before taking off at 1.47am, in an apparent attempt to conceal his departure from air traffic control and Cairns Airport staff.

The collision with the hotel roof occurred just four minutes later, at 1.51am.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said security cameras recorded brief portions of the final part of the flight, showing the helicopter pitching up, then almost immediately descending steeply before colliding into the roof of the hotel.

“Wreckage distribution and impact marks indicate that the helicopter was inverted at impact.” said Mr Mitchell.

Most of the helicopter came to rest on the hotel roof and was destroyed by the impact and a fuel-fed fire.

Although Mr Wilson held a helicopter pilot licence, he did not hold a night rating and there were no records of him flying a helicopter in Australia.

Mr Mitchell said the entire flight was conducted below an altitude of 500ft (152m) well below the 1000ft minimum height for flying over built up areas.

Parts of the main rotor blade were found in the hotel rooms below the crash site, while the helicopter’s instrument panel, main rotor head and most of the main rotor blades were scattered in the hotel grounds.

A portion of the same main rotor blade that struck the hotel windows was found in parkland across the road.

Mr Mitchell said it was fortunate there were no injuries to hotel guests and staff, nor passers-by.

“From the available evidence, there were no airworthiness factors with the helicopter that likely contributed to the accident,” Mr Mitchell said.

“The flight was a purposeful act, but there was no evidence available to explain the pilot’s intentions.”

He said Mr Wilson’s family were deeply distressed by the incident, and had requested privacy.

Plus, attributed to DTS Stewie Macleod today...

Bankstown forced landing likely after fuel starvation due to low quantity, unbalanced flight



A Cessna 210 was force landed on a Bankstown Airport taxiway, likely after a low amount of fuel combined with unbalanced flight to starve the engine, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation has concluded.

On 26 May 2024, a Cessna T210M single piston-engine aeroplane was being ferried from Maitland to Bankstown, New South Wales, where it was to undergo maintenance. There was a pilot and a passenger on board.

During the approach to Bankstown, the engine stopped.

“The pilot identified a taxiway on the airport as a suitable place for a forced landing and elected to leave the flap retracted and the gear up in order to reduce drag and maximise glide range,” ATSB Director Transport Safety Stuart Macleod said.

Once the aircraft was over the airport, the gear was lowered, but it did not successfully lock in place due to the limited time available.

“The aircraft landed wheels-up, resulting in minor damage, but fortunately both occupants were uninjured,” Mr Macleod outlined.

An ATSB investigation determined the aircraft departed Maitland with sufficient fuel to complete the intended flight, but it was likely the amount of fuel reduced to a level that, in combination with unbalanced flight approaching Bankstown, resulted in the engine being starved of fuel.

“Fuel starvation occurrences can often be prevented by conducting thorough pre-flight fuel quantity checks combined with in-flight fuel management,” Mr Macleod explained.

“Pilots are reminded to check fuel quantities prior to departure using a known calibrated instrument such as a dipstick.”

“In addition, comparing the expected fuel burn with actual fuel remaining after a flight, will give a validated fuel burn for the aircraft and ensure the measuring equipment is accurate.”

The ATSB’s final report directs pilots to familiarise themselves with CASA’s Advisory Circular Guidelines for aircraft fuel requirements, which provides further guidance for in‑flight fuel management.

While it did not contribute to the occurrence, the ATSB also concluded the pilot’s decision to carry non-essential crew on a ferry flight for maintenance placed that additional occupant at unnecessary risk of injury.

“While the passenger was reportedly present to assist with navigation and radio communication, the ferry flight was conducted under a CASA special flight permit, requiring only essential operating crew be carried,” Mr Macleod said.

“These conditions are in place to minimise the consequences if an incident occurs during such a flight.”

Finally, the report notes, the pilot failed to complete the engine failure during flight checklist which, if followed, would have increased the likelihood of the engine being restarted in flight.

“Practising forced landings from different altitudes under safe conditions can help pilots prepare for an emergency situation,” Mr Macleod explained.

“Being familiar with emergency checklists and your aircraft’s systems will assist in an emergency when identifying and managing an engine failure.”

Read the report: Fuel starvation involving Cessna T210M, VH-MYW, 4 km north-west of Bankstown Airport, New South Wales, on 26 May 2024

Publication Date: 11/10/2024

MTF...P2