The Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB) has begun its investigation into the circumstances leading to Monday’s [2 January 2023] mid-air collision between two H130s operated by Sea World Helicopters.
Video footage of the crash shows that the collision took place at a low altitude shortly after one aircraft had taken off from the operator’s helipad while the second aircraft was on approach to the same facility.
As a result of the collision, the main rotor and gearbox of the first aircraft separated, with four occupants being killed and three seriously injured in the resulting crash.
Remarkably, although the aircraft suffered significant damage, the pilot of the second aircraft was able to land on the same sandbar where the first aircraft came to rest.
Speaking at a press briefing, ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell warned “that while there are a large number of witness accounts and video footage” of the accident, it will take investigators “a long time to work through that evidence” as well as review the operational procedures, the type of operation and hours flown, telling reporters that “any investigation takes a long time” and that the crash site on a tidal sandbar adds further complication.
Another dimension to the investigation is that ASTB resources are at full stretch, with two other challenging aircraft accident investigations also begun in the last 10 days.
