Pilot's cocaine use made impairment 'probable' in Sea World crash, experts say
Two doctors have delivered explosive testimony at the inquest into the Sea World chopper crash, saying one of the pilots was ‘more likely than not’ impaired by cocaine use.
Two medical experts have challenged the official report into the Gold Coast chopper disaster saying it was probable that the chief pilot’s drug use impaired his abilities at the time of crash.
Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson and passengers Ron and Diane Hughes, and Vanessa Tadros all died when their chopper collided with another Sea World Helicopters on January 2, 2023.
An inquest examining the disaster at Brisbane Coroners Court has heard Mr Jenkinson last used cocaine about 35 hours before the crash at a New Year’s Eve party where he also consumed 12 beers and an unknown amount of bourbon.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into the mid air collision found it unlikely the pilot’s psychomotor skills were impaired during the fatal flight by the low cocaine metabolites found in his system post crash.
But in an expert panel discussion at the inquest on Wednesday Dr Katherine Robinson, a senior forensic physician at Queensland Health, said her opinion had strengthened that Mr Jenkinson’s impairment was “more likely than not” following evidence of his NYE party.
“I do feel that, given his pattern of use in the days prior to the incident, it is more likely than not that he was impaired by that drug taking, particularly with regards to its effect on his sleep,” she said.
Dr Jeff Brock, an aviation medicine expert, said evidence about his drug use coupled with increased work pressure regarding new choppers, had persuaded him the likelihood of Mr Jenkinson being impaired at the time of crash went from “possible to probable”.
Dr Judith Perl and Dr Charles Denaro said there was no evidence he was impaired at the time.
“He might have been but we don’t have any corroborating evidence,” Dr Denaro said.
Victoria’s chief toxicologist Dr Dimitri Gerostamoulos, who gave evidence at the mushroom murder trial of Erin Patterson, said if Mr Jenkinson was urine tested the morning of the crash, cocaine would have “definitely” been detected while an oral fluid test “might” have picked it up.
Mr Jenkinson passed an alcohol test on the day of the crash as well as a fatigue test.
Dr Brock said in his opinion Mr Jenkinson was unfit to fly.
“That is reckless behaviour for the very first time he started using it (cocaine),” he said.
Barrister Peter Ward, for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, suggested there was not a clear case that Mr Jenkinson technically had a substance use disorder.
“I would actually argue that a cocaine binge about 36 hours before you fly a helicopter is high risk behaviour which will fit into that classification,” Dr Robinson interjected.
Dr Denaro agreed it was dangerous and reckless behaviour
“To the lay person taking cocaine 36 hours … before you fly a complex aircraft I would have thought bars you from ever doing it at all,” he said.
Dr Gerostamoulos said it was well established that drugs made transport operations dangerous.
“There’s a reason why some of these drugs are tested at the roadside. They increase crash risk,” he said.
The inquest has been adjourned until January.
Originally published as Pilot's cocaine use made impairment 'probable' in Sea World crash, experts say
