Two men have died after the helicopters they were flying collided just after take off on a cattle station in WA’s Kimberley region.
The men, one aged 29 and the other aged 30, died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash at Mount Anderson Station in Camballin, about 110 kilometres south of Derby on Thursday morning.
Emergency services were called to the station after the incident at about 6.30am.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the men were both mustering cattle at the station, with two other choppers, when the tragedy occurred.
“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has commenced a transport safety investigation into the mid-air collision of two Robinson helicopters near Camballin, Western Australia on Thursday morning,” he said.
“As reported to the ATSB, at about 6.30am four helicopters were departing to conduct mustering near Mount Anderson Station when, shortly after take-off, two of the helicopters collided.
“The ATSB is deploying a team of transport safety investigators from its Canberra and Brisbane offices, with expertise in aircraft operations and maintenance, to the site.”
The investigators would conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities including wreckage examination and site mapping, and recover any relevant components for further examination.
Mitchell said they would speak to witnesses of the crash and collect relevant recorded data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records and weather information.
“The ATSB will release a preliminary report detailing factual information established in the investigation’s evidence gathering phase in about two months. A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation and will detail analysis and findings,” he said.
“However, should a critical safety issue be identified during the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so safety action can be taken.”
WA Police Force will prepare a report for the Coroner.
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