Witness to fatal helicopter crash at Lebrina, Tasmania describes moments before accident
A witness to the devastating helicopter crash that claimed the life of a 41-year-old man in the state’s north earlier this year has described the frightening moments before the accident.
Tasmania
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A witness to a fatal helicopter crash that rocked Tasmania’s north earlier this year has described the moment they saw the aircraft plunge rapidly to the ground.
As part of its investigation into the crash, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released a preliminary report, detailing the February 14 accident, which occurred in the rural locality of Lebrina, north of Launceston.
The pilot, 41-year-old Andrew Kerr, had been taking part in firebombing operations, as emergency services sought to bring a raging blaze under control off Pipers Brook Rd.
According to the ATSB report, Mr Kerr had been tasked with conducting a water drop on a small hotspot of the bushfire, but was seen to miss the target before veering away from the staging area and descending toward an open paddock.
“A witness positioned at the staging area, who had also been monitoring VH-UHX (Mr Kerr’s aircraft), observed the pilot depart in the helicopter, fill the underslung bucket in a nearby dam and then track toward the hotspot,” the report read.
“On release of the water, the witness also identified that the load had missed the target. They then observed the helicopter commence a descending profile, enter a hover and then rapidly yaw twice, before descending from view below the tree line.”
The ATSB said Mr Kerr died as a result of fatal injuries sustained during the crash and the helicopter was destroyed from the impact and a “fuel-fed fire”.
Upon analysing the crash site, transport safety investigators observed that the helicopter had impacted the ground along a westerly flight track and noted “ground scars” which showed that the tail section had impacted the ground first, followed by the skid, main rotor blades and then the cabin.
“The helicopter’s tail section, including the tail rotor gearbox, had separated from the fuselage, and had come to rest a short distance from the main wreckage,” the ATSB report read. “The bucket and line, meanwhile, had been released from the helicopter prior to the ground impact and were positioned approximately 300m from the wreckage.”
ATSB director transport safety Stuart Macleod said a final report into the accident would be published once the bureau’s investigation was complete.
“It is important to note that this preliminary report details factual information established in the investigation’s early evidence collection phase, but it does not detail analysis or findings, which will be outlined in the investigation’s final report,” he said.
“However, should a critical safety issue be identified at any time during the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so they can take appropriate and timely safety action.”
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