ATSB investigates Welcome Station helicopter crash
A Cape York pilot has miraculously walked away from a remote helicopter accident after his Robinson R22 clipped a pallet containing two 200-litre drums of highly flammable aviation fuel and crashed.
A Queensland pilot has miraculously walked away from a remote helicopter accident after his Robinson R22 Beta clipped a pallet containing two 200-litre drums of highly flammable aviation fuel and crashed at a Cape York cattle station.
The incident unfolded at Welcome Station, east of Laura, on Thursday, July 3.
In a summary report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau released on July 24, the regulator found the pilot, who was the sole occupant, was making an approach to land during a ferry flight in preparation for mustering operations when the left skid made contact with the pallet.
The impact caused the helicopter to bounce violently upwards.
“(The pilot) recalled hearing a bang and felt a ‘shimmy’ through the tail rotor pedal controls, which they suspected was the main rotor severing the tail boom,” the report stated.
“The pilot suspected the main rotor had severed the tail boom.”
The helicopter instantly began to rotate in a clockwise direction. The left skid then smashed into one of the fuel drums, sending the aircraft rolling before it impacted the ground and came to a halt on its side just 15m away from the pallet.
An ATSB review of photos supported the pilot’s recollection and noted that damage to the tail boom, tail rotor and vertical stabiliser was consistent with contact which likely led to the tail boom separating and the helicopter rotating clockwise.
Despite the dramatic crash, the pilot was able to escape the wreckage unharmed.
Three nearby colleagues then worked quickly to roll the damaged helicopter upright in an effort to stop fuel leaking from the fuel cap.
The alarming accident serves as a critical safety message and highlights the importance of a clear visual lookout for obstacles as a helicopter approaches the ground.
This seasoned aviator, who has accumulated 9500 hours flying the R22, now intends to educate other pilots about the risks of objects close to the aircraft when landing.
“Pilots should always conduct a thorough reconnaissance of a landing area and, where possible, use ground marshallers to determine any potential hazards, assess the terrain, and identify a safe location to land the helicopter,” the report stated.
Note, the ATSB did not conduct a full investigation into the crash and did not verify the accuracy of the information provided for this brief summary report.
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