Cairns chopper crash pilot affected by alcohol, ATSB report finds

A young man who took a helicopter and crashed it into a Cairns hotel rooftop was drunk at the time, an ATSB investigation has found.

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.

The horrific crash site on the roof top of Double Tree by Hilton on the Cairns Esplanade. . Picture: ATSB

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.

The flight path of the Robinson R44 flown by Blake Wilson on August 12. Picture: ATSB

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.

Damage to hotel room immediately under the point of impact at Cairns hotel. Picture: ATSB

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.

Originally published as Cairns chopper crash pilot affected by alcohol, ATSB report finds