Robinson R22 BETA, VH-KZV: Fatal accident occurred November 24, 2018 in Alice Springs, Australia

NTSB Identification: WPR19WA032
14 CFR Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Accident occurred Saturday, November 24, 2018 in Alice Springs, Australia
Aircraft: ROBINSON R22, registration:
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious.

The foreign authority was the source of this information.

On November 24, 2018, at 1200 local time, a Robinson R22 BETA, VH-KZV, collided with terrain near Alice Springs, NT, Australia. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. The flight was operated under the pertinent civil regulations of the Government of Australia.

The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Australia and authority of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Australia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
P.O. Box 967, Civic Square
Canberra A.C.T. 2608
Australia
Tel: (61) 2 6257-4150
http://www.atsb.gov.au

Collision with terrain involving Robinson R22 Beta, VH-KZV, 130km ENE of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, on November 24, 2018

Investigation number: AO-2018-077

Summary

The ATSB is investigating a collision with terrain involving a Robinson R22 Beta, VH-KZV, 130km ENE of Alice Springs Airport, Northern Territory on 24 November 2018.

The helicopter collided with terrain about 130km ENE of Alice Springs Airport. A passenger and pilot were on board. The passenger sustained serious injuries and the pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was destroyed.

A final report will be released at the end of the investigation.

Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify those affected and seek safety action to address the issue.

https://www.atsb.gov.au

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) team has begun its investigation of a helicopter crash in Central Australia on Saturday, which left one man dead and another with critical injuries.

The crash occurred approximately 125 kilometres north east of Alice Springs near the Old Ambalindum station in the East MacDonnell Ranges. The Robinson R22 helicopter, which is commonly used for cattle mustering, crashed into a riverbed.

An ATSB spokesman said it was too early to speculate on what could have caused the accident.

“At team of three ATSB transport safety investigators travelling from Canberra are anticipated to arrive in the Northern Territory on Sunday afternoon to begin the evidence collection phase of the investigation,” he said.

The spokesman said the investigators are expected to spend several days inspecting the scene.

“The evidence collection phase will define the size and scope of the investigation and determine the expected time frame for the completion of a final report,” he said.

“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of an investigation, the ATSB will immediately communicate it to relevant parties so that appropriate safety action can be taken.”

St John Ambulance spokesman Craig Garraway said paramedics had a tough job in transporting the critically injured patient to the hospital in Alice Springs.

“Where they could land the responding helicopter was about a 10 minute walk to where the crash site was. They had to walk into the site and then had to stretcher the patient, once he was stabilised, back to the helicopter where there was a doctor waiting,” he said.

“The weather was apparently not very good there so what they had to do is one responding helicopter had to take off to get the patient back out and the other helicopter had to stay there because it couldn’t take off.”

NT Police are preparing a report for the coroner and their investigations are also ongoing.


https://www.ntnews.com.au