ATSB release report on helicopter crash which killed respected cattle baron Alan Acton

A well-known Queensland cattleman killed in a helicopter crash on his property likely did not see a powerline while mustering, a report has found.

Australian Transport and Safety Bureau determined the helicopter made contact with a powerline which was partially obstructed by trees.

A well-known Queensland cattle baron who was killed in a helicopter crash on his property likely did not see a powerline while mustering, a report has found.

Alan Acton, 65, was killed in April when his chopper crashed at his Dingo property after making contact with a partially obscured powerline.

The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau released their findings of the crash on Friday, saying Mr Acton likely did not see the single powerline hanging 5.6m above the ground.

Jennifer and Alan Acton at the Wilpeena race track. Picture: Supplied

ATSB Director Transport Safety Dr Stuart Godley said the fatal crash was a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by aerial powerlines during low-level mustering.

“Wires are notoriously difficult to see from the air, even when you know where they are,” Dr Godley said.

The report stated Mr Acton was flying his Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter to conduct mustering on his property on April 4.

After mustering a large mob of cattle, he flew back to one corner of the block to look for stragglers and radioed for workers on the ground to help.

As the workers approached, they saw a plume of smoke and realised the chopper had struck an unmarked powerline before crashing to the ground.

Mr Acton died on impact and the wreckage caught fire.

Queensland Police officers later returned to the accident site and simulated Mr Acton’s approximate flight path and height with a drone.

The simulation showed the powerline was “difficult to distinguish” from the background, and the left pole was obstructed by trees.

The examination found that the wire was struck between the helicopter’s nose and the upper surface of the skids.

Despite Mr Acton reportedly knowing the powerline was there, the ATSB found he couldn’t see it.

“The ATSB concluded that the pilot likely lost awareness of, and did not see, the unmarked aerial powerline during low-level aerial mustering.”

The powerline was not required to be marked, and the helicopter model was not able to be fitted with wire strike protection equipment.

Australian Transport and Safety Bureau determined the helicopter made contact with a powerline which was partially obstructed by trees.

Dr Godley noted that power companies can mark powerlines that are found to be a hazard.

“The ATSB encourages property owners to engage with electrical power and telecommunications companies to mark wires which are potential threats to aircraft conducting low-level aerial work,” Dr Godley said.

Mr Acton was a respected cattleman whose involvement in the agricultural industry spread across the country.

The family had been rocked by tragedy over the years, with Mr Acton’s brother Graeme, the former head of the Acton empire, dying in 2014 after he was badly injured in a campdrafting accident.

Jennifer and Alan Acton at the Magic Millions in 2019: Picture: Supplied

His nephew Joseph died in a car crash near Normanton in 2011 and another relative, Brent, was also killed in a helicopter crash while mustering cattle in 2017.

In 2017, the family celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Wilpeena, which from 1927 to 2008 used to have picnic races which drew crowds of up to 3000.

The Actons have been running cattle for 150 years and are considered Queensland’s most successful and wealthy farming family.

Originally published as ATSB release report on helicopter crash which killed respected cattle baron Alan Acton