Taipan crash inquiry looking at army aviation culture

The inquiry into the fatal crash of a Taipan helicopter on July 28, 2023, has also examined the pilot’s Helmet Mounted Display (HMD), the performance of which is essential for dangerous night-time operations.

An Australian Army MRH-90 Taipan lands as part of air mobility operations with the 3rd Battalion on Exercise Brolga Run 23 at Townsville Field Training Area, Townsville, Queensland, in late April 2023. Picture: Department of Defence

In a matter as sensitive as an investigation into the deaths of four service personnel, one would expect an extraordinary degree of thoroughness and caution. That is exactly what we are seeing with the independent inquiry, led by distinguished Queensland judge, Margaret McMurdo AC, into the fatal crash of a Taipan helicopter on July 28, 2023, during Exercise Talisman Sabre.

The basic facts are not in dispute: at about 10pm in very bad weather, in darkness and at low level, one helicopter in a formation of four, without warning pitched up and then dived down at high speed into the water only about 200m below. This happened so suddenly that there was only time for a very brief warning call from the crew of another Taipan in the formation before impact, which was so severe that the helicopter disintegrated and all on board died instantly.

The first hearings concentrated on the helicopter itself, which was deemed by army to be safe and reliable. On the first day of the hearings on February 27, the main witness was Lieutenant Colonel Tony Cameron, the Commanding Officer and chief instructor at the Army School of Aviation, who provided details of operating Taipans and the challenges of flying at night and the importance of the crew maintaining situational awareness.

Asked about the media stigma attached to the helicopters – formally known as the MRH-90 – and whether this criticism had led to a loss of confidence in the aircraft, he replied: “From the MRH community, there was not a loss of confidence in the aircraft. It had issues with supply chains, maintenance, et cetera, which had the flow-on effects of being able to fly them consistently at certain times ... so as far as confidence in the aircraft as a safe flying platform, I’m not aware of anyone not having confidence in that.”

Since then, the inquiry has also examined in detail another technical feature, the pilot’s Helmet Mounted Display (HMD), the performance of which is essential – especially for dangerous night-time operations. While the helmet has been criticised, the inquiry has been told that a problem with its symbology was very minor and is unlikely to have been a factor in the crash.

Having heard evidence that neither the helicopter itself nor the night vision system appear to have been a factor – or at least not the dominant one – the current phase of the investigation has been looking at things such as pilot fatigue. Evidence has been presented that during Talisman Sabre all aircrew were working hard, and some were stressed. There was a complaint that sleeping during the day was difficult because of the amount of noise from nearby military operations.

The fatal crash investigation – and the time it would take to conclude – was given as the reason for the premature retirement of the remaining fleet of 45 Taipans in September last year. However, if the helicopters themselves were fine it would seem to undercut the position of the army and the government. In the meantime, the few replacement Black Hawks that have arrived in Australia are effectively grounded because there are not enough pilots to fly them. On top of that, some of the fleet of heavy-lift CH-47 Chinooks are experiencing maintenance issues, with the number of flying hours less than predicted.

Putting all of this together, it seems that Army Aviation is not performing as well as could be hoped.

It is possible the investigation in the Taipan tragedy will be the catalyst for a broader examination of what needs to be done better.