ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 228767
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| Date: | Friday 6 September 2019 |
| Time: | 18:13 |
| Type: |  Bell UH-1H Iroquois |
| Owner/operator: | Brisbane Helicopters Pty Ltd |
| Registration: | VH-UVC |
| MSN: | 5144 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1966 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6790 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Port Stephens, Anna Bay, NSW -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Coffs Harbour Airport, NSW (CFS/YCFS) |
| Bankstown Airport, NSW (BWU/YSBK) | |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter impacted the waters of the sea near Port Stephens, NSW. There were four men and one woman onboard the aircraft. Search operations were suspended on September 7th. The wreckage of the helicopter has been located. The wreckage is difficult to reach for divers. All five occupants are deemed to have died in the crash.
Contributing factors
• The pilot continued to fly after last light without the appropriate training and qualifications, and then into dark night conditions that provided no visual references. That significantly reduced the pilot's ability to maintain control of the helicopter, which was not equipped for night flight.
• The pilot likely became spatially disorientated, resulting in a loss of control and collision with water.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2019/aair/ao-2019-050/
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2019/09/06/search-underway-after-reports-of-chopper-crash-near-newcastle/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7435623/Four-killed-helicopter-crashes-disappearing-radar.html
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/major-search-operation-after-helicopter-goes-missing-off-the-radar/news-story/682ed2fc286b4c510685acafa9b2b748
https://www.facebook.com/atsbgovau/photos/a.1655527014665323/2395708620647155/?type=3&theater
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9306602 (photo)
Images:
VH-UVC Departing Archerfield on one of the last flights.
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 06-Sep-2019 13:04 | gerard57 | Added |
| 06-Sep-2019 13:56 | gerard57 | Updated [Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Narrative] |
| 06-Sep-2019 15:35 | gerard57 | Updated [Registration, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 06-Sep-2019 16:14 | Captain Adam | Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Location, Nature, Source] |
| 06-Sep-2019 16:15 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 07-Sep-2019 03:30 | Geno | Updated [Total occupants, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 07-Sep-2019 09:18 | Pineapple | Updated [Operator] |
| 07-Sep-2019 18:50 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 11-Sep-2019 07:43 | gerard57 | Updated [Total fatalities, Damage, Narrative] |
| 12-Sep-2019 17:36 | Anon. | Updated [Destination airport] |
| 12-Sep-2019 17:37 | harro | Updated [Source] |
| 13-Feb-2020 13:52 | CM | Updated [Departure airport, Photo] |
| 14-Nov-2023 16:06 | harro | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Source, Narrative] |
| 14-Nov-2023 17:15 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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