Student pilot missed multiple safe landing zones before Mentone helicopter crash

A trainee pilot who crashed into the roof of a Mentone home last year missed two earlier chances to safely land the helicopter, investigators found.

A student pilot missed two chances to safely land a helicopter before crash landing into an elderly woman’s Mentone home last year, a report has found.

Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) probed the November 30 2022 crash during which the pilot conducting his second ever training flight crash-landed onto the home’s roof on November 30.

An elderly homeowner was shopping at Bunnings when the chopper crash landed onto the roof of her home, where she had lived for 55 years, about 1pm.

The three-seat Hughes 269C helicopter struck the roofs of two houses near Moorabbin Airport, seriously injuring the pilot and causing severe damage to the helicopter.

Emergency workers attempt to access the student pilot in the wake of the crash landing. Picture: Nine News

The student helicopter pilot was lucky to survive the dramatic crash and spent an hour trapped inside the cabin’s wreckage before emergency services were able to cut him free.

Investigators concluded that the student pilot did not immediately recognise the helicopter’s power loss, limiting its chances of a safe landing, but he did control the helicopter enough to stop him from being killed.

ATSB Transport Safety Director Stuart Macleod said the helicopter’s engine lost power as it rose to about 650 ft above the ground.

“The engine power loss occurred at low height over a densely populated area presenting a challenging scenario for the inexperienced student pilot,” he said.

Remnants of a helicopter are taken from the crash site in Mentone last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“While in this case, the selected landing location was unable to be reached, importantly, the pilot maintained control of the helicopter to maximise survivability.

“While the pilot identified a reduction in performance at this time, they did not immediately recognise the engine had lost power.”

The pilot had been returning to Moorabbin after their second solo navigation training flight, when their approach became unstable, and they commenced a go-around.

Mr McLeod said the crash highlighted the need for pilots to plan ahead in the event of a forced landing.

The student pilot whose helicopter crash into the roof a Mentone home has vowed to fly again. Picture: Nine News

“When the pilot recognised a forced landing was required, they then did not identify a nearby football oval as the closest suitable area, possibly due to it being obscured by the airframe or instrument panel,” he said.

“Instead, they identified a school ground, and attempted a landing there, but collided with rooftops short of this intended location as the helicopter had insufficient height.”

“Pilots can best mitigate the effects of a power loss by forward planning, which reduces your mental workload under stress.”

The helicopter was operated by The Helicopter Group, based at Moorabbin Airport.