Australian Transport Safety Bureau releases early findings for Lorella Springs helicopter crash
Mates on a scenic Territory adventure came face-to-face with disaster. Now the aviation safety watchdog has released their initial findings.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The aviation safety watchdog is continuing to investigate after a sightseeing flight over a Territory national park turned into a disaster.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released an early stage report into a helicopter crash near Lorella Springs, which left a Victorian tourist in Darwin hospital for three weeks.
A Robinson Helicopter R44 with four people on-board plummeted 130m from the air while flying near Nathan River Station, at Limmen National Park on May 16.
The ATSB said it was investigating an engine failure or malfunction as the cause of the crash.
“During sight seeing operations, the engine ran rough and failed,” the ATSB early stage investigation said.
“The pilot conducted an autorotation where the helicopter collided with terrain and was destroyed.”
The injured passengers and crew had to hike for 90 minutes to reach a location where they could be spotted by rescuers.
The pilot and two passengers managed to escape from the crash with only minor injuries, but Craig Withers suffered serious injuries.
The 29-year-old’s back was broken in six places, and he suffered nine broken and displaced ribs, two collapsed lungs, sheering of his spinal cord and sever psychological trauma.
The ATSB will publish its full report when the investigation is concluded.
“However, should any critical safety issues be identified at any stage during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate safety action can be taken,” it said.
According to the ATSB, there have been 26 helicopter crash investigations in the Territory over the past 12 years.
Eleven of these crashes have involved a Robinson 44, another 11 involved Robinson 22s, three involved Bell Helicopters and one involved a Super Puma helicopter.
History of helicopter crashes in the NT
May 16, 2022: During sightseeing operations the engine of a Robinson Helicopter R44 ran rough and failed near Nathan River Station. The pilot conducted an autorotation where the helicopter collided with terrain and was destroyed. The pilot and two passengers suffered minor injuries and one passenger suffered serious injuries. All four survived.
February 28 2022: A Robinson R44 helicopter crashed near King River in a remote part of West Arnhem land, one man was killed and another man was in hospital.
August 16, 2020: A Robinson R22 Beta was used for cattle mustering operations in remote country from the Rocky Point Yards, south of the McArthur River Mine Aerodrome. The pilot was required to conduct an emergency forced landing. The helicopter landed heavily, resulting in substantial damage to the machine and serious injuries to the pilot.
May 21, 2019: Two seriously injured men were trapped in a crashed Bell 206B3 JetRanger helicopter in a remote area of Kakadu National Park while mustering. A third man was able to free himself and call for help. All three men survived.
May 21, 2019: While engaged in a planned cull of feral animals in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, a crew of three were using a Bell 206B3 JetRanger helicopter for aerial platform shooting. While the helicopter was operating at about 50ft above the ground, the engine decelerated to idle, resulting in an immediate loss of power, and subsequent collision with terrain. The three occupants, pilot, shooter and spotter, were seriously injured.
November 24, 2018: The pilot and passenger of a Robinson R22 were called to assist the recovery of a motor vehicle near Quartz Hill. Shortly after entering the MacDonnell Ranges, the helicopter collided with terrain on a downslope. The pilot was fatally injured and the passenger suffered serious injuries.
January 17, 2018: A Robinson R44 helicopter departed for a scenic 15-minute flight with the pilot and three passengers on-board. The rotor RPM began to decay shortly into the flight, with the pilot unable to arrest the rate of descent, resulting in a hard landing. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured, with the other passenger experiencing minor injuries.
November 18, 2016: A Robinson R44 helicopter was operating to support firefighting personnel near Sleisbeck. As the pilot lowered the collective and the helicopter’s skids touched down, the helicopter started to slide to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the sideways movement, but the main rotor blade struck a rock, and the helicopter started vibrating. The pilot rolled off the throttle and applied right pedal, but the helicopter rotated to the left and the horizontal stabiliser struck a rock. The helicopter was substantially damage. The pilot and two passengers were not injured.
November 12, 2015: A pilot was mustering cattle about 90km south of McArthur River Mine in a Robinson R22. The helicopter crashed, with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau unable to determine the reason behind it. The pilot suffered serious injuries and was unable to recall the sequence of events.
July 14, 2015: The pilot of a Robinson R44 helicopter was mustering cattle along a creek system on a property, east of Alice Springs. The helicopter was at about 50ft above ground level when they felt small vibration. The pilot looked for a suitable landing site, but the vibration increased significantly. The right skid touched down first, and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The pilot suffered minor injuries and the helicopter was substantially damaged.
June 28, 2015: A Robinson R22 helicopter took off from a property near Daly Waters to inspect bores on the property. Less than 10 minutes into the flight the low rotor revolutions per minute warning horn sounded. During the descent the main rotor blades collided with tree branches. The helicopter landed heavily, the skids dug in to the soil and the helicopter rolled onto its side. The pilot suffered minor injuries and the helicopter was substantially damage.
June 14, 2015: The pilot of a Robinson R44 helicopter was conducting cattle mustering operations at Waterloo station, southwest of Timber Creek. A loss of engine power due to contaminants introduced into the fuel system during refuelling caused the helicopter to crash. The pilot survived the impact but later succumbed to their injuries.
January 9, 2015: A Robinson R44 was carrying passengers around Alice Springs Township when the pilot noticed the main rotor RPM was decaying. The pilot was able to clear rocks and shrubs on the opposite side of the river, but was forced to make a run-on landing on a flat area just above the river bed. The helicopter tipped precariously during the initial landing attempt. The helicopter was substantially damaged during the event.
November 18, 2014: A Robinson R22 helicopter left from La Belle Downs Station, Northern Territory to check on a bush fire. The pilot felt a vibration through the tail rotor pedals. turned the helicopter to the right and started a descent. The pilot was unable to stop the turn. The helicopter started to spin in a tight circle and completed between five and six rotations before landing hard, bouncing once and then coming to a stop. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The helicopter was substantially damaged.
September 23, 2014: A Robinson R44 helicopter left Bulman camp, east of Tindal Airport, to conduct gravity survey operations. The pilot identified a potential landing spot, decided against it because of trees blocking clearance. As they tried to leave the helicopter started to sink and the pilot observed the rotor revolutions per minute decaying. The helicopter continued to descend and the main rotor blade collided with multiple tree branches. When about 6ft above ground level, the helicopter rotated about 180 degrees and landed hard with the left skid touching the ground first. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the pilot and passenger were uninjured.
September 14, 2014: a charter flight on a Bell 206 helicopter left from Myra mine camp, and attempted to land when it struck a tree. The pilot was able to fly back to Jabiru where an engineer noted the substantial damage.
March 27, 2014: The pilot of a Robinson R22 helicopter left Mullapunyah station for a short flight when the drive v‑belts failed. The helicopter fell in a steep descent. The pilot was found laying a few metres from the crashed helicopter with a serious head injury.
February 10, 2014: The pilot of a Robinson R22 helicopter left a property about 100 km east of Mataranka. The pilot was distracted looking outside the door at the object and the helicopter collided with a tree. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the pilot was uninjured.
October 15, 2013: The pilot of a Robinson R44 helicopter was doing gravity survey work, north of Daly Waters when they were flagged down by technicians. The pilot looked toward the rear of the helicopter and saw a fire underneath, which was spreading into the engine bay. The occupants were uninjured, however the helicopter was destroyed by the grass fire.
September 1, 2013: A Robinson R22 helicopter hit the ground shortly after takeoff after turning into a downwind position, affecting the controllability of the aircraft. The helicopter contacted the ground and flipped over a number of times before coming to rest. The pilot suffered serious injuries and the helicopter was destroyed.
January 19, 2013: A Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter was returning to station homestead, east of Manton Dam when winds between 25 to 30 knots, causing it to suddenly yawed to the right and completed 3 to 4 revolutions before impacting trees. The helicopter came to rest inverted and was seriously damaged. The pilot was able to exit with minor injuries and assisted the seriously injured passenger.
June 10, 2012: A Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Raven 1 filming the annual Finke Desert Race was seriously damaged following a reported loss of power and collision with terrain near Maryvale. One passenger was seriously injured as a result of the accident.
September 11, 2011: a Robinson Helicopter, R22 Beta II helicopter was mustering cattle about 43 km east-south-east of Maningrida when it was seriously damaged. While guiding a herd of buffalo into the yarding area, at about 20ft above ground level, the helicopter’s tail rotor struck a tree.
September 12, 2011: A scenic flight from the Heartbreak Hotel had a rapid loss of engine oil in a Robinson R44 Astro helicopter shortly before touchdown. After landing, the pilot observed flames originating from under the engine cowling at the rear of the helicopter. All three passengers evacuated the helicopter. The helicopter was subsequently destroyed due to fire.
July 21, 2011: The main rotor blades of a Super Puma helicopter hit a light pole at Port Keats Airport. The helicopter was propelled towards the pole and rolled onto its left side. The two crew members and three of the four passengers suffered minor injuries. Three bystanders were left with minor injuries and one of the parked aircraft and four parked vehicles were damaged by flying debris. The aircraft was seriously damaged.
October 4, 2010: The pilot of a Robinson R22 was fatally injured after the helicopter hit the ground while conducting cattle mustering operations about 170 km east of Katherine. The investigation determined that the engine was probably the cause of the collision with the ground, probably due to fuel exhaustion.
More Coverage
‘See some records broken’: First medals given out as ‘Games with Heart’ kicks off
One of the biggest weeks on the Red Centre sporting calendar is underway in full force, drawing thousands of competitors – some of whom have already taken out the top prize. SEE THE PICTURES.
Fire fears as heritage-listed mural sits forgotten after $3m acquisition
A fire danger period being declared hasn’t spurred the government into action over a site it acquired for more than $3 million – leading to fears an important piece of NT heritage could be reduced to ash.