The Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia suggestion that an additional hazard identification check be carried out prior to a cleanup run was not routinely practiced by the pilots, or monitored by the operator.
The Chief pilot advised that changes have been made to the company operations manual that addresses hazard identification checks and has now been submitted to CASA.
As a result of this accident, the operator has advised that more comprehensive wire avoidance procedures will be included in the operator’s operations manual, and that pilots will be required to conduct an additional hazard identification check prior to any cleanup run.
The ATSB is satisfied that the action by the helicopter operator will, when incorporated in the operator’s operations manual, adequately address the safety issue.
