ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 174778
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| Date: | Friday 20 March 2015 |
| Time: | 12:00 |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 BETA |
| Owner/operator: | M.D.H. Pty Ltd |
| Registration: | VH-HUA |
| MSN: | 3973 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2005 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 93km SE of Mount Isa, QLD -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Survey |
| Departure airport: | Stanbrooke Station, Queensland |
| Devoncourt Station, Queensland | |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
During manoeuvring the helicopter collided with terrain resulting in substantial damage. The pilot and passenger were not injured. According to the following summary from the official ATSB report into the accident:
"On 20 March 2015, at about 11:40 Eastern Standard Time, a Robinson R22 helicopter, registered VH‑HUA, departed from Stanbroke Station for a private flight to Devoncourt Station, Queensland. On board were a pilot and one passenger. The main fuel tank was filled to capacity prior to departure, with 68 Litres of fuel. While en route between the two stations, the pilot was assessing the water available for stock by overflying water holdings.
At about midday, while about 500 feet above ground level, the helicopter approached a gorge 93 km South East of Mount Isa, Queensland. To assess the water quantity in the gorge, the pilot conducted a descent to about 100 feet and slowed the helicopter to a hover. As the pilot shifted his focus outside, the rotor revolutions per minute (rpm) decreased, the low rotor rpm warning horn sounded and the helicopter commenced descending. The pilot immediately lowered the collective and turned the helicopter away from the higher gorge walls in an attempt to increase forward speed and rotor rpm. He was unable to regain sufficient rotor rpm and the helicopter continued to descend.
The right skid landed heavily on uneven ground, followed by the left skid. The main rotor then collided with a rock and the helicopter rolled onto its right side. The pilot and passengers exited the helicopter and were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage.
The temperature at the time was 42°C and the elevation of the area was about 1,000 feet above mean sea level. This incident provides a reminder of the effect on helicopter performance of density altitude, weight, and wind. Pilots are encouraged to carefully and accurately assess these factors to ensure that an adequate performance margin is maintained."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2015/aair/ao-2015-033.aspx
2. http://helihub.com/2015/03/20/20-mar-15-vh-hua-robinson-r22-mount-isa-australia/
3. http://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/HUA
4. http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/VH-HUA.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Mar-2015 14:02 | Pineapple | Added |
| 23-Mar-2015 16:02 | Geno | Updated [Source] |
| 18-Oct-2016 13:51 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 09-Jun-2022 11:34 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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