There was no formal risk assessment process in use at the operator’s Horn Island base.
Action will introduce formal risk management process to the entire company operation
Following this occurrence, the operator revised the existing task risk analysis (TRA) related to winching operations. Once completed, the revised TRA will be disseminated to all of the operator’s search and rescue/emergency medical service bases as part of the initiation of formal aviation risk management training covering all aspects of company operations to be introduced in early 2011.
The ATSB is satisfied that the action by the helicopter manufacturer will, once in place, adequately address the safety issue.
