ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 184765
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| Date: | Saturday 20 February 2016 |
| Time: | 08:08 |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 BETA |
| Owner/operator: | Spreadborough Aerial Services Pty Ltd |
| Registration: | VH-LYW |
| MSN: | 4482 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2010 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Waikola Station, 88 km NE of Roma, QLD -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Waikola Station, Queensland |
| Waikola Station, Queensland | |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The ATSB is investigating a wire strike and collision with terrain involving a Robinson R22 helicopter, VH-LYW, 88 km northeast of Roma, Queensland, on 20 February 2016. During aerial mustering operations, the helicopter struck power lines and subsequently collided with terrain. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter was destroyed. According to the following summary from the official ATSB report into the accident:
"On the morning of 20 February 2016, the pilot of a Robinson R22 helicopter, registered VH-LYW, was conducting aerial cattle mustering operations on a property about 88 km northeast of Roma, Queensland.
The pilot had mustered in that paddock several times previously, and was aware of a set of high voltage transmission wires that had been erected across the property in the previous 12 months.
Prior to commencing mustering, the pilot overflew the paddock, sighted the powerlines and formed a plan to muster the cattle from north to south, giving due consideration to the wires running east-west. The pilot then mustered the mob from north to south, and the helicopter remained above the wires during that time.
The pilot then saw another vegetated area near the dam, where cattle may be hidden from view, and flew the helicopter towards it. While the pilot’s focus was on searching for cattle in the scrub below, the helicopter neared the powerlines. The pilot’s attention suddenly returned to the wires. Sighting them close in front at the same level, the pilot immediately commenced a near-vertical climb to try to avoid them. As the helicopter climbed, the pilot assessed that it was not going to clear the earth wire, and lowered the nose of the helicopter in an attempt to pass below the earth wire and above the other wires. The tail rotor blade struck the earth wire.
The tail rotor failed and the helicopter yawed around. The helicopter descended rapidly and continued to rotate. As it descended, the pilot closed the throttle, overriding the governor. When the helicopter neared the ground, the pilot raised collective to try to cushion the landing. The helicopter collided with the ground nearly upright, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot was seriously injured."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2016/aair/ao-2016-013/
2. http://helihub.com/2016/02/20/20-feb-16-vh-lyw-robinson-r22-roma-australia/
3. https://www.westernstarnews.com.au/news/man-airlifted-after-helicopter-crash/2937957/
4. https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/LYW
5. phot of wreck: https://goo.gl/images/3bmsVT
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Feb-2016 12:56 | Pineapple | Added |
| 18-Oct-2016 21:26 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 15-Aug-2018 22:54 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Destination airport, Source] |
| 18-Jan-2020 18:31 | harro | Updated [Source, Accident report, ] |
| 08-Jun-2022 08:46 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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