GHD's documented risk assessment for helicopter operations did not consider the hazard of an emergency landing at the drill site. This increased the risk that ground personnel were not clear of the load pick-up area in the event an emergency landing was required.
The ATSB is satisfied that providing pilots and ground crew with a documented plan to mitigate the hazard of an emergency landing during lifting operations will reduce the risk of this safety issue.
On 12 June 2018, GHD convened a hazard assessment workshop between GHD, Heli Surveys and O’Driscoll Aviation where mountain lifting hazards and controls were discussed. This was to ensure ‘alignment, common approach and understanding between all parties’. A risk management plan was developed during this workshop for use in similar future operations.
Hazards and controls relating to lifting operations were identified during this workshop. These related to controlling risks during the carriage of loads on the long-line, such as the loss of the load, intentional emergency load release, and unintended contact with the suspended load.
Further, ‘GHD amended its safety induction and instructions to all staff on the ground, that when helicopters were operational, the service provider had the authority to instruct staff on the ground where to stand…’. GHD also developed new standard operating procedures to include specific instructions requiring team discussion of what to do in an emergency landing.
GHD engaged a third party ‘to review and audit all helicopter operations, in order to ensure best practice, they audited the helicopter staging and landing sites, the operations on the ground and in the air, the maintenance facilities [and provider] and all related documentation’.
Following the accident, further evaluation of hazards during lifting operations was conducted by Heli Surveys. A risk management plan dated 23 November 2020 included the hazard of ‘forced landing on approach, let down/pick up of load or departure’. This control contained reference to the ‘sterile zone’ as an area to avoid and included that, ‘All essential ground crew to be clear of open forced landing areas if possible’. Further the control stated, ‘The pilot will use the phrase “Mayday” to indicate a “major” emergency or uncontrolled situation that requires all ground crew within the area to seek cover and prepare for an impact of the load or helicopter’.
Heli Surveys also conducted an internal investigation focussing on identifying lessons learned in line with a no blame culture focused on improving safety.
Following the accident, roles and responsibilities for future aviation operations were clarified between Snowy Hydro and GHD. A project planning document dated 5 June 2018 specified the roles for GHD, including ‘taking responsibility as Principal Contractor of the designated drill pad sites’, in support of the Snowy 2.0 project. This meant ‘that GHD directly engaged the helicopter service provider for future helicopter operations, and also took over management and control of helicopter lifting sites, as well as Drilling Sites, and all flights undertaken were under the direction and control of GHD’.
In addition, Snowy Hydro engaged external consultants ‘to undertake a full audit which reviewed all helicopter service provider’s safety documentation, operations and GHD’s management of the overall operations’.
