ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 149402
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| Date: | Wednesday 3 October 2012 |
| Time: | 17:30 |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 Beta |
| Owner/operator: | North Australian Helicopters Pty. Ltd. |
| Registration: | VH-LLF |
| MSN: | 1468 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1990 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Gorge next to the Margaret River, 130 Km W of Halls Creek, WA -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Larrawa Sation, Western Australia |
| 130 Km West of Halls Creek, Western Austrlia | |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
On 3 October 2012 the pilots of two Robinson R22 helicopters, each with a passenger on board, landed in the vicinity of a narrow gorge about 130 km west of Halls Creek, Western Australia. With the others on the ground, one of the pilots lifted off in VH-LLF to have a look at the gorge from the air.
The pilot descended into the gorge and then during the ascent the helicopter tail contacted a rock overhang about 30 metres above the gorge pool and separated, resulting in loss of control, collision with the surrounding rocks, and submersion. The pilot of VH-LLF did not survive. The pilot of the remaining R22 ferried the two passengers, in turn, out of the gorge area.
The ATSB found that the pilot of VH-LLF descended into a confined gorge through a relatively narrow opening without prior knowledge of the gorge characteristics. That created a situation where the pilot was required to climb the helicopter out of the gorge with marginal clearance and potential disorientation in fading light.
Subsequently, although the pilot of the remaining R22 was able to ferry the passengers out of the gorge area post-accident, it was carried out with higher risk than was absolutely necessary.
As this occurrence demonstrates, helicopter pilots need to be mindful that some confined areas will allow access, but will present significant risks on the climb out.
According to contemporary press reports (see links #2 and #6) the pilot who lost his life was named as Angus “Gus” Mundell, aged 40. Mr Mundell, who was based in the Northern Territory but living at the nearby Larrawa station at the time of the crash. His body was trapped in the wreckage of the helicopter for at least two days, as a specialist diving team had to travel to the crash site from Perth to recover the body.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. ATSB: http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2012/aair/ao-2012-133.aspx
2. https://au.news.yahoo.com/pilot-killed-in-helicopter-crash-15030759.html
3. http://www.austairdata.com.au/component/rsdirectory/entry/view/25370-vh-llf-1
4. http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2013/03/robinson-r22-vh-llf-chopper-pilot-died.html
5. http://helihub.com/2012/10/03/03-oct-12-vh-llf-robinson-r22-halls-creek-australia-1f/
6. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-05/chopper-pilot-update/4297402?section=wa
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Oct-2012 01:07 | gerard57 | Added |
| 05-Oct-2012 00:17 | gerard57 | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 05-Oct-2012 12:06 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 05-Oct-2012 12:12 | gerard57 | Updated [Location] |
| 11-Oct-2016 11:55 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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