Crop duster chopper’s emergency landing in Cassowary Coast banana field

Australia’s national transport safety investigator has made a call about a potential investigation into the hard landing of a crop dusting helicopter on the Cassowary Coast last week.

A helicopter conducted an emergency landing in a banana field at Wangan on the Cassowary Coast on Thursday, January 9. Picture: Supplied

Australia’s national transport safety investigator has made a call about a potential investigation into the hard landing of a crop dusting helicopter on the Cassowary Coast last week.

On Thursday January 9 a crop dusting helicopter pilot had a lucky escape after making an emergency landing in a banana field at Wangan.

At about 10am an incident was reported on Innisfail Japoon Rd at following a heavy landing of a Robinson R44 operated by Country Mile Helicopters.

Staff of the company declined to comment on the incident and would not state their name when contacted by the Cairns Post.

“The pilot is OK, he is safe and that’s all that matters,” the staff member said.

“It’s been an accident that has occurred.”

The company, which specialises in aerial spraying and mustering work, declined to verify the cause of the emergency landing.

A video of the landing site shows a small helicopter with distinct yellow and black paint job on the fringe of a banana field, however damage to the aircraft appears to be minimal.

Police were only advised hours after the landing by a member of the public and by the time officers arrived the helicopter had been removed.

The incident has been reported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Queensland Ambulance Service were contacted however did not have a record of any recent calls for service in the Wangan area.

In a statement the ATSB said the agency was notified of a hard landing involving an R44 at Wangan,

“After gathering further information the ATSB has decided not to conduct an investigation into this accident,” a spokesman said.

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Originally published as Crop duster chopper’s emergency landing in Cassowary Coast banana field