The ATSB has released their final investigation report into the crash of a Robinson R44 at Jaspers Brush last year, and it is beginning to sound like a broken record.
According to the report, the accident was caused when the pilot lost control trying to close a door after lift-off, but the fatal injuries were attributed to a post-impact fire that broke out when the fuel tanks ruptured.
On February 4, 2012, VH-COK departed Jaspers Brush, NSW, with two people on board, on a mission to photograph the launch of a deep-sea submarine near Jervis Bay.
"Soon after lifting off the pilot’s door opened and the pilot reached out to close the door," the report indicates. "Simultaneously the helicopter abruptly pitched nose-up then steeply nose-down, rolling to the right
before the right landing gear skid and main rotor blades struck the ground.
"A fuel-fed fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tanks and lower mast area prior to the helicopter coming to a stop. Both occupants were fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed."
VH-COK had not been modified to install bladder fuel tanks instead of the aluminium tanks fitted standard to the helicopter.
After this, and a high-profile crash near Bulli this year, CASA has grounded all R44s that are still fitted with the aluminium tanks.
The full ATSB report can be downloaded from the ATSB website here.