Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation reveals root cause in Limmen National Park crash

A Top End adventure quickly turned to disaster after a chopper crash left three people injured in a remote stretch of the Territory.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released its report into a Robinson R44 crash at the Lost City, in Limmen National Park on August 7 2023.

Air crash investigators have blamed a hidden root for a chopper crash which left three people injured in a Top End adventure gone terribly wrong.

On Wednesday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau released its investigation into a Robinson R44 crash at Limmen National Park, 95 km northwest of Borroloola, on August 7, 2023.

The ATSB said three passengers and a pilot were on board the chopper, operated by Wellspring Rural Services, when it attempted to take off from a landing site near the Lost City at 11.50am.

It was the pilot’s sixth flight of the day, and they arrived to drop off and pick up the next group of tourists when something went awry.

The pilot was unaware that the chopper’s left skid was pressed against a tree root that was partially hidden by sand.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released its report into a Robinson R44 crash at the Lost City, in Limmen National Park on August 7 2023.

As the helicopter started to lift the root caused it to roll left, and the pilot reacted to the unexpected movement by turning right.

Once free the chopper “dynamically rolled” to the right, smashing into the ground.

The ATSB said the pilot and a passenger suffered minor injuries, but another tourist in the back seat was left with a fractured rib.

ATSB Director Transport Safety Stuart Macleod said the accident highlighted the need to inspect landing sites for potential hazards, particularly in bush landing sites.

The report said the remote landing site had been used by the flight company for eight years, with up to eight landings a day, without incident.