The external aircraft white lighting was inadequate to illuminate the terrain below and to the side of the aircraft at the required operating height., This delayed the identification and recovery from the unsafe aircraft state resulting in the pilot not identifying the developing rate of descent during the incident, delaying the recovery from the descent.
The ATSB acknowledges the work Helicorp Pty Ltd (Toll Group) has done in fitting the improved lighting to the AW139 fleet and consider this issue now closed.
Helicorp Pty Ltd identified in its post‑incident investigation report that a high-powered search light could have been of benefit in this incident in helping to establish visual cues.
The report also suggested that the high-powered search light project should be fast tracked to the extent reasonably possible.
Helicorp Pty Ltd reported it is improving search light capabilities across its fleet of AW139 helicopters, specifically through a modification project to fit the A800 Trackkabeam to the fleet. The first aircraft fitment commenced in October 2021 and the project is due to be complete across the fleet in September 2022.
In addition, complex missions requiring winching will be prioritised with regards to available aircraft fitted with the A800 Trakkabeam.
It is generally accepted that this high-powered searchlight will improve the visual cues available to the flight crew when operating in the low level search and rescue environment.
The issue remains open as the program to improve the external lighting across the fleet will take approximately 12 months, with the last aircraft to be modified in September 2022. As part of the fleet remain unmodified this issue remains open and will be reviewed in April 2022 to confirm the program is running to schedule.
On 22 June 2023, Helicorp Pty Ltd (Toll Group) advised the ATSB that the TRAKKA was successfully fitted across the entirety of the NSWA/ACTAS AW139 fleet and had been in operations for quite some time, that is, coming on close to 12 months.
