Ground handling involving Hughes Helicopters 269C, VH-OBK, 40 km north-north-east of Warren, New South Wales

The helicopter had been engaged in spraying operations for more than three hours and was refuelled on several occasions whilst the engine was running. This procedure, which is approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, is known as "hot refuelling".

The pilot reported that he landed the helicopter to the left and rear of a stationary utility vehicle which contained the refuelling equipment. After the helicopter came to rest, and contrary to normal hot refuelling procedure, the driver reversed the utility towards the helicopter and stopped under the main rotor disc. The driver then took a fuel hose from the tray of the utility to the helicopter. Upon returning to the utility, he climbed onto the rear tray to start transferring fuel but was struck on the head by the main rotor blades and received fatal injuries.

The driver had been conducting hot refuelling for more than five weeks. The procedure called for the vehicle to remain stationary after the helicopter landed. The pilot was required to park the helicopter in a position where the main rotor disc was clear of the utility. With the vehicle parked in this position relative to the helicopter, the driver could safely climb onto the rear tray to pump fuel into the helicopter without fear of being struck by the rotor. The reason why the driver departed from this procedure was not established.