ATSB final report released into Robinson helicopter crash which killed pilot Ed Kraft at Port Stephens

A final report into a fatal helicopter crash has found experienced pilot Ed Kraft had only a few seconds to right his machine after it hit turbulence as he flew over a picturesque Port Stephens headland.

Bennetts Beach and Yacaaba Headland, at Hawks Nest, where Ed Kraft’s helicopter crashed. Picture: Supplied

A helicopter broke up within four seconds of hitting turbulence over a picturesque Port Stephens headline, the machine violently rolling over before crashing into the Tasman Sea and killing experienced pilot Edwin “Ed” Kraft and his loyal dog Roxy.

A final report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, released publicly on Monday, found a series of circumstances had contributed to Mr Kraft not being able to stabilise his Robinson R66 helicopter after it encountered the rapidly rising air over Yacaaba Head, the northern Port Stephens headland adjacent to Hawks Nest, on October 26, 2023.

It included the Jindabyne-based pilot having food in his right hand as he passed over the headland while flying on autopilot – recorded by a camera inside the helicopter and recovered after the crash – and the speed in which the machine was travelling.

“The helicopter was flying on autopilot at an indicated airspeed of 115 knots, 45 knots above the manufacturer’s maximum recommended speed for flight in significant turbulence,” ATSB Director Transport Safety Stuart Macleod said.

“This speed significantly increased the uncommanded right roll rate and reduced the time available for the pilot to respond by applying a gentle aft cyclic input to re‑load the main rotor disc.

Helicopter pilot Edwin Kraft with his daughter Ashleigh and the machine which crashed in Providence Bay near Hawks Nest on October 26, 2023. Picture: Instagram

“In addition, the pilot had been eating and had food in their right hand, and so they used their left hand to manipulate the cyclic, reducing their ability to slow the helicopter in a timely manner using coordinated flight control inputs.”

Mr Kraft had left the Snowy Mountains and refuelled at Cessnock before flying to the coast, where he planned to follow it up to his destination near Forster.

Ed Kraft had refuelled at Cessnock flying to the coast and following it north before his helicopter hit turbulence at Port Stephens. Picture: Facebook

He had experienced some rain and low level cloud before he approached the headland on autopilot.

The bureau said footage from the on‑board camera was “instrumental” in detailing the accident sequence, showing that after the helicopter began rolling to the right, Mr Kraft did not apply aft cyclic – or pulling the machine’s joystick backwards – to reload the main rotor, and the roll continued.

“Instead, the pilot progressively applied increasing left cyclic during the right roll, increasing the risk of an extreme teetering event, where the spindles of the main rotor contact the main rotor shaft, precipitating a break‑up,” the bureau said.

The helicopter quickly inverted and broke up before crashing into the waters of Providence Bay, immediately north of Yacaaba Head, killing Mr Kraft and Roxy.

The Hunter Westpac rescue helicopter crew searching for the missing helicopter between Yacaaba Headland and Broughton Island at Port Stephens on October 27, 2023.

The investigation also found that a horizontal stabiliser fitted to Robinson series helicopters “significantly contributes to uncommanded right roll rates during low‑G conditions, adding to the risk of an in‑flight break‑up”, the bureau said.

“Pleasingly, Robinson Helicopter Company has developed a symmetrical horizontal stabiliser that is being fitted to all new Robinson helicopters, and is available as a modification for all existing Robinson helicopters,” Mr Macleod noted.

In addition, Robinson would replace the asymmetric stabiliser with the symmetrical design on all R66s and R44s returned to it for overhaul, the bureau said.

“Further, Robinson Helicopter is in the process of updating several safety notices to provide pilots with improved guidance specific to low‑G, turbulence, and pilot distraction.”

Pilot Ed Kraft. Picture: Facebook

M Kraft's dog Roxy was also on the flight. Picture: Instagram

Mr Macleod said the bureau “strongly encourages” fitment of the symmetrical stabiliser.

“The modification significantly reduces the right roll if a low‑G condition is encountered, allowing pilots more time to recognise and respond to the situation.”

The bureau said avoiding turbulent conditions where possible, and flying through turbulence at or below the maximum airspeed recommended by the manufacturer, remained critical safety defences for pilots of Robinson helicopters.

“In this case the pilot’s response to encountering the low‑G contributed to the development of the in‑flight break‑up, but we would caution all Robinson helicopter pilots that a low‑G condition can result from turbulence directly, and pilots must be ready to respond appropriately,” Mr Macleod said.

“If the main rotor disc is not immediately reloaded, right roll can develop rapidly, particularly when an asymmetrical stabiliser is fitted.

“Therefore it is critical that pilots apply immediate gentle aft cyclic to reload the main rotor, before correcting the right roll.”