Hughes 269C, VH-SMQ, Yandiarra Station (100 km south of Port Headland), Western Australia, on 14 July 1990

Circumstances:

The pilot was attempting to prevent a herd of cattle from turning towards water by flying parallel to the cattle drive and between it and a creek bed. The aircraft was 10 feet above ground level and travelling at 10 knots when the tail boom and rotor collided with the top beam of a shed frame. The pilot was unable to retain control of the aircraft and it crashed next to the frame. The pilot was aware of the location of the rust coloured metal frame, however he had temporarily forgotten about it. The cattle drive had drawn his attention away from the aircraft's flight path and possible obstacles. A fine layer of dust covered the windscreen and with the setting sun, in front of the aircraft, visibility was reduced to the point where the pilot did not see the frame which blended into the rocky background.

Significant Factors:

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident

1. The pilot forgot about the frame due to his concentrating on the cattle drive.

2. The pilot's visibility was impaired by the dusty windscreen, the setting sun and the lack of contrast between the frame and the background