Loss of control involving a Robinson R22 Beta, VH-LLK, 35 km south of Brisbane, Queensland, on 15 April 1994

Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter land in the corner of a fenced paddock. A short time later the helicopter took off again but after climbing to about three metres above the ground, it began rotating and gyrating erratically, contacting the ground a number of times. It came to rest in an upright position but with the tail boom severed and damage to the main rotor assembly and gear box.

The pilot reported that he had recently recovered from a viral complaint which was characterised by severe coughing bouts but had been free of these symptoms for a few weeks. As he flew over the area of the accident, however, he had experienced the incipient stages of a coughing fit, so he landed the helicopter, shut the engine down, and walked around for a short time until the symptoms disappeared. He then reboarded the helicopter to continue the flight but shortly after lift-off was overcome by a severe coughing fit. This caused him to partially lose control of the helicopter, and it contacted either the fence or the ground.