Investigators probe cause of horror Sea World helicopter crash

Investigators are desperately trying to piece together just how two Sea World helicopters crashed, killing four people, as the surviving pilot is praised for his ‘remarkable’ landing.

The chopper pilot praised for a “remarkable” feat in landing a badly damaged helicopter following a terrifying mid-air collision has undergone surgery in hospital, as investigators search for answers to the aviation disaster.

Michael James, 52, is recovering in Gold Coast University Hospital after surgery to remove shrapnel from wounds suffered in the helicopter horror that left four people dead on Monday.

The cause of the crash is the subject of an intense investigation involving police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, with Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll refusing to rule out the possibility of criminal charges.

He has undergone surgery to remove ‘shrapnel’.

Pilot Michael James after the crash.

The pilot of the other chopper, Sea World Helicopters’ chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson, died along with British couple Ron and Diane Hughes and NSW mum Vanessa Tadros, when their aircraft plummeted to earth after the collision, while Mr James was able to miraculously navigate his badly damaged chopper to a nearby sand bank. The feat prompted witnesses to declare that he “deserved a medal” for avoiding a much higher death toll.

Mr James is yet to speak with police to give his account of the tragedy.

Investigators continue to probe exactly what caused the crash – the worst Gold Coast helicopter accident since seven people died in a joy flight over South Stradbroke Island in 1991.

Mr Jenkinson’s Eurocopter EC130B4 had been in the air for less than 20 seconds and had climbed to an altitude of about 200 feet before coming into contact with the chopper approaching from the west, and fell from the sky.

The EC130B4 helicopter is operated from the left-hand side, and investigators from the ATSB will seek to determine whether line of sight or communication systems played any role in the tragedy.

The helicopter piloted by Michael James retrieved by investigators on Tuesday. Picture NewsWire / David Clark

As per operator guidelines, Mr Jenkinson had taken off in a southerly direction into the face of a gentle south-easterly breeze blowing at between 15-18 knots (about 30km/h). He had two passengers in the front seat and four across the back. Geelong mum Winnie De Silva, 33, who was sitting behind Mr Jenkinson, along with her son Leon, 9, survived the crash, along with Mrs Tadros’ 10-year-old son.

All three remain in hospital after the crash, in which the chopper’s rotor blade and gearbox separated from the rest of the machine upon impact with the other helicopter.

Mr James’ chopper, the same model, had six people on board, who all escaped with minor injuries.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the death toll could have been far higher.

“It was a remarkable job considering the damage that was done to the front left-hand part of the aircraft where the pilot was sitting,” he said. “We could have had a far worse situation here. What we do need to know now is what was occurring inside those cockpits.”

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll says investigations are continuing and that charges could not be ruled out. Picture Glenn Hampson

It is understood there were no “mayday” distress transmissions sent by either pilot, with investigators now looking to access recording devices salvaged from the wreckage.

“We have a reasonable understanding of what the helicopters were doing in those critical stages of flight (take off and landing),” he said. “But exactly why this occurred, what the range of visibility for both the pilots, what was happening inside the cabins at the time – they are the things that will help us piece together potentially what might have been a contributing factor here.

“But it’s still very early in the investigation to start speculating. In any helicopter operations, what we’ll have a look at now is what were the processes and procedures in place operating out of Sea World? Were they followed? Were they sufficient? What were those processes in place to protect helicopters, particularly in those phases of flight?”

Ms Carroll did not rule out criminal charges over the crash but said it was “very early days” in the investigation.

“Please be patient with that (investigation) … it may be days, it may be weeks,” she said. “They are quite comprehensive investigations. We will prepare a report for the Coroner and assist the ATSB with their investigations.”

Investigations continue into how the accident occurred. Picture Scott Powick

Ms Carroll said all potential causes of the crash, including pilot error and equipment malfunction, would be looked at as part of the investigation.

“We have got a lot of work to do; the ATSB have got a lot of work to do,” she said.

“These are meticulous, meticulous investigations that need to be done exceptionally well.”

Sea World Helicopters did not reopen for business on Tuesday and is closed until further notice.