Sea World Helicopters crash: Investigators reveal likely cause of fatal mid-air collision

The likely cause of the horrific helicopter collision over the Gold Coast Broadwater has finally been made public – more than two months after the initial crash. Here is what investigators found.

The cause of the horrific helicopter collision over the Gold Coast Broadwater has finally been made public – more than two months after the initial crash.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on Tuesday morning released its preliminary report into the crash between two Sea World Helicopters choppers which occurred about 2pm on January 2.

Emergency services at the scene of the Sea World Helicopters crash which claimed the lives of four people and seriously injured five others on January 2, 2023. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The report found:

* the collision occurred as one chopper (XH9) was landing and the other (XKQ) was taking off

* the chopper landing did not recall hearing the chopper taking off make a ‘taxiing’ call

* this did not mean a call was not made

* the landing chopper thought the other chopper would pass behind him;

* the pilot of the landing helicopter did not see the other chopper leave the helipad;

* the operator knew about a problem with the transponder on the landing helicopter. It was not transmitting secondary surveillance radar responses that were detected by radar for the accident or previous flights;

* because of the transponder problem the aircraft was not able to be used in a controlled airspace;

* the choppers were about 130 feet above ground and about 23 seconds into XKQ’s flight;

* the choppers were operating for two helipads about 220m apart;

* the five-minute flights were to follow the same counterclockwise orbit;

ATSB officers continue their helicopter crash investigations at the Seaworld Helicopter Hangar on the Spit. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the findings were based on factual information from interviews with survivors, witnesses, analysis of video footage and images taken by passengers, onlookers and nearby CCTV.

He said they found the leaving helicopter did not hear the other chopper’s ‘taxiing’ call.

“This does not necessarily mean that a taxi call was not made, and the ATSB investigation will undertake a detailed analysis of the nature of the radio calls made,” he said.

Mr Mitchell said because other passengers saw the other choppers it did not mean the pilots did.

“The investigation will look closely at the issues both faced in seeing the other helicopter,” he said.

“We have already generated a 3D model of the view from the pilot’s seat from an exemplar EC130 helicopter which we will use as a part of a detailed visibility study to help the investigation determine the impediments both pilots faced in sighting the other helicopter.”

The crash occurred just after 2pm on January 2 when two helicopters – one landing and one taking off – collided.

Horror over the Broadwater: The Untold story of Gold Coast’s helicopter disaster

One pilot managed to safely land the chopper on a sandbank but the other fell from the sky, killing those on board.

One of the choppers had only been in the air for 20 seconds.

Chief pilot of SeaWorld helicopters, Ash 'Jenko' Jenkinson, 40, was killed in the mid-air collision. Picture: Supplied.

Four people were killed – pilot Ashley Jenkinson, Sydney woman Vanessa Tadros and British couple Ron and Diane Hughes – while five were injured.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigators have spent weeks looking into how the crash may have occurred. Picture NewsWire / David Clark

The injured included Geelong woman Winnie de Silva and her 9-year-old son Leon, Ms Tadros’ 10-year-old son Nicholas and pilot Michael James.

GOLD COAST AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos JANUARY 15, 2023: Mourners hold hands at Broadwater Parklands to pay their respect to those killed in the horror Sea World Helicopters crash. A public vigil was held to honour the victims of the accident. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Last month Nicholas had his leg amputated below the knee after weeks in hospital.

Hundreds of people enjoying the new year in the Broadwater Parklands and Sea World witnessed the crash.

British newlyweds Diane and Ron Hughes were killed in the crash. Picture: Supplied.

The ATSB spent the past few weeks combing through hours of footage from witnesses, inside the helicopter and CCTV.

The wreckage was also seized.

Investigators were also spotted flying drones at the crash site, setting up in a hangar near Sea World.

More to come.

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