• The crash site of R22 VH-YPC. (WA Police)
    The crash site of R22 VH-YPC. (WA Police)
Close×

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has completed its investigation into the fatal night crash of a Robinson R22 in the Kimberley.

VH-YPC crashed 70 km north-west of Halls Creek on 25 August 2014 on a ferry flight from Yeeda to Springvale.

According to the ATSB report, the pilot, who was the only person in the aircraft, continued flight into dark night conditions without a night visual or instrument rating, inadvertantly allowing the helicopter to descend into terrain.

In the investigation report, the ATSB said: "This accident highlights the inherent high risk of night flying in remote areas due to the absence or degradation of the visual references for establishing an aircraft’s attitude and position. This risk is increased to unacceptable levels when night flying is attempted by pilots without night VFR or instrument flying qualifications.

"To avoid the usually fatal consequences of disorientation, day VFR pilots need to plan to arrive at their destination at least 10 minutes before last light and to have a realistic ‘Plan B’ to use when it becomes apparent that an intended flight cannot be completed in daylight."

The pilot of YPC was trailing another R22 on the same flight, which arrived at Springvale at 1810, 28 minutes after the calculated last light.

The full investigation report is on the ATSB website.

 

comments powered by Disqus