Taipan helicopter fleet conditionally cleared to fly as investigation continues

The grounded army helicopters have been allowed to fly again, but the investigation into why one crashed in the ocean continues.

The army’s grounded Taipan helicopters have again taken to the sky, two weeks after an ocean crash landing in New South Wales.

About 9pm on March 22 an MRH-90 Taipan was ditched into the water at Jervis Bay; on-board were members of the 6th Aviation Regiment and 2nd Commando Regiment.

The Defence Force said the main rotor lost power, and grounded the fleet while the cause of the crash was investigated.

A Defence spokesman said they were undertaking counter-terrorism training, and no one was seriously injured.

A defence spokeswoman said on Friday the department had lifted the operational pause on flying operations for the Taipans, though the investigation into the crash would continue.

The MRH-90 fleet returned to normal operations on April 6 with “risk mitigations in place”, the spokeswoman said.

An MRH-90 Taipan battlefield mobility helicopter flies in Brisbane in September, 2022. Picture David Clark.

“The risk mitigations will have minimal impact on planned flying operations.”

Operational security prevents the department from discussing specific mitigations, but a spokesman said it is satisfied the helicopters are safe to fly with these mitigations.

The Australian Army has 41 MRH-90 Taipan helicopters.

Ten are in Townsville with the 5th Aviation Regiment.

The MRH-90 Taipans have caused recurring issues for the Australian Defence Force, including multiple full or partial fleet groundings.

In January, it was reported that Townsville would not receive new Black Hawk helicopters, with defence saying NQ would continue to be the home of an expanded CH-47 Chinook fleet.

The Taipans transport troops and give fire protection during special operations and counter-terrorism missions.

Originally published as Taipan helicopter fleet conditionally cleared to fly as investigation continues