Investigation number
199500011
Occurrence date
State
Tasmania
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence type
Collision with terrain
Occurrence category
Accident
Highest injury level
Minor

The pilot reported that he was spraying a potato crop and had 150 litres of chemical on board. Weather conditions were fine with a south easterly wind of three to five knots. He commenced his first run which was in a westerly direction and uphill. At the end of the run he switched off the spray and commenced a left climbing turn to avoid a nine metre high hedge with a house behind. The aircraft did not respond to control inputs and started to head for the hedge. The pilot managed to avoid the hedge but said the aircraft felt "mushy" and started to go down. The aircraft hit the ground and rolled over. The pilot did not claim there was any fault with the engine. He had been flying a more powerful turbine powered helicopter until recently when he was endorsed on the Hughes 300. He had limited experience on the aircraft type at the time of the accident.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Hughes Helicopters
Model
269C
Registration
VH-OBK
Sector
Helicopter
Departure point
Sassafras TAS
Destination
Sassafras TAS
Damage
Substantial