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A fatal helicopter accident in North Queensland highlights the inherent risk of night flying in remote areas without the qualifications to do so, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation details.
On the evening of 11 February 2021, the pilot of a Robinson R22 had flown from their station at Reedy Springs, south-west of Townsville to an area nearby to look for family members. Attempting to return to Reedy Springs, the pilot became lost, and landed at Camden Park Station, then Wongalee Station, to refuel and get directions.
“Different individuals at both stations suggested the pilot discontinue the journey, due to poor weather conditions and degrading light,” ATSB Director Transport Safety Dr Stuart Godley said.
“However, the pilot elected to continue to their planned destination, taking off from Wongalee five minutes before last light.”
Twenty-nine minutes after last light the helicopter contacted a powerline, which resulted in a loss of ground lighting in the direction of flight.
“Then, shortly after turning to follow an unsealed road in overcast, moonless conditions, the helicopter departed the road after a bend, before flying over open grassland and colliding with trees and terrain in a left bank, nose-down attitude.”
Conditions on the night of the accident were overcast, and just 1 per cent of the moon was illuminated. The severed powerline – which had been supplying electricity to a nearby station – further reduced the amount of ground lighting available to the pilot, who was already operating in a sparsely-populated area.
“Based on the nature and location of the wirestrike, and accident location, it was very likely that the pilot was flying at a low altitude, tracking over a sealed road, then an unsealed road, in an effort to navigate back to their property.”
Dr Godley said the accident highlighted the inherent high risk of night flying in remote areas, due to the absence or degradation of the visual references for establishing an aircraft’s attitude and position.
“Day visual flight rules (VFR) pilots need to plan to arrive at their destination at least 10 minutes before last light – and to not take off after this time under any circumstances.”
Read the report Collision with terrain involving Robinson R22 Beta II, VH-HKC, 87 km north of Hughenden Aerodrome, Queensland, on 11 February 2021