Aviation Safety Investigation Report - Preliminary
Collision with terrain Dorrigo, NSW, 9 December 2009
| AO-2009-077 |
Dorrigo, 148° M 3 km |
| 09 Dec 2009 |
NSW |
| 1125 ESuT |
Fatal |
| Accident |
Occurrence Investigation |
| Collision |
Active |
| Operational |
08 Feb 2010 |
|
Injuries:
|
Crew
|
Passenger
|
Ground
|
Total
|
| Fatal |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Serious |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Total
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
| Bell Helicopter Co |
206L-1 |
| VH-MJO |
45745 |
| Other Aerial Work |
| Serious |
|
On 9 December 2009, the pilot of a Bell Helicopter Co. 206L-1
Longranger, registered VH-MJO, was conducting a visual flight rules
(VFR) flight at Dorrigo NSW, with one passenger on board. Shortly
after takeoff, he encountered reduced visibility conditions due to
low cloud. Subsequently, all visual reference with the horizon and
the ground was lost. The pilot attempted to conduct a landing but
the helicopter impacted the ground with a significant vertical
force. As a result, the pilot was seriously injured and the
passenger was fatally injured. The helicopter was seriously
damaged.
The investigation is continuing.
Download preliminary report [
PDF: 298KB]