Loss of control - Schweizer 333, A2-HDB, Gaborone Airport, Botswana, on 22 January 2002

On 22 Jan 2002, A Schweizer 333 helicopter, registered A2-HDB, crashed at Gaborone Airport in Botswana, killing the pilot, who was an Australian citizen. The Republic of Botswana Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) initiated an investigation into the accident.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) was notified of the accident in 2005 and appointed an expert under the provisions of clause 5.27 of Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. To protect information supplied by the Botswana DCA to the ATSB and investigative work undertaken to assist the Botswana DCA, the ATSB initiated an investigation under the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003. A copy of a draft report was sent to the ATSB for review and comment in February 2008. The ATSB provided comments to the Botswana DCA on 20 February 2008.

The Botswana DCA is responsible for releasing a final investigation report regarding this accident. Once completed, a copy of the report can be requested from the Botswana DCA at the following address:

Department of Civil Aviation
PO Box 250
Gaborone
Republic of Botswana

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Released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.