Helicopter close call in Tasmania in 2024 unreported to safety authorities until video tip-off to ATSB
The incident in Tullah, in Tasmania's north-west in July 2024, only came to light after a member of the public saw a video on Facebook and later reported it to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
The Bell 214B-1 helicopter, operated by McDermott Aviation, had departed a private airfield at Cressy, Tasmania for an "external sling load operation" at Tullah, the ATSB report said.
The helicopter was crewed by two pilots, with the copilot as "pilot flying" in control of the aircraft.
As the helicopter arrived over Tullah, the crew "observed significant fog over most of the town, from the reservoir to the ridge".
The crew "discussed the available options to land at Tullah", with disagreement over which approach to take — after which control was taken over by the other crew member, referred to in the report as the "pilot in command" (PIC).
The PIC "reported as the sun was low on the horizon and the water was glassy calm, there was a reflection of the edge of town and trees along the reservoir, reducing their depth perception".
Due to a "concern with possibly flying into the water, the PIC planned to conduct a slow and steep approach towards the reservoir", the ATSB found.
The PIC "anticipated they would become visual with the water at approximately 100-200 feet (30-60 metres), aided by the rotor downwash disturbing the water surface", with the pilot then using this "as a height reference, then climb back to 500 ft (150 metres) to continue to the edge of town for further descent".
However, during the descent, the rotor downwash was "not visible to the crew due to the descent angle", with the crew losing sight of the "visual reference with the water".
At approximately 5 feet (1.5 metres), the crew "identified the water surface", with the PIC "immediately" applying power to "stop the descent and initiate a climb", the report noted.
The ATSB said the video showed the helicopter "making a significant splash", before it pulls away and climbs to 500 feet above the water.
In its report, the ATSB said the "serious incident" was not reported at the time by the helicopter operator, as is "required by the Transport Safety Investigation Regulations".
It decided to investigate after "receiving video of the incident from a third party".
There were no injuries arising out of the incident, the report said.
The incident first came to light after a video was shared in a community Facebook group about helicopters being involved in communication tower upgrades in the local area.
The post, shared a day after the incident, shows the helicopter involved — the yellow and blue McDermott Aviation Bell 214 with another helicopter during "emergency services communications upgrade" work — and mentions "fog/low cloud" in the area.
The video posted into the comments, later deleted but obtained by the ABC, shows the helicopter coming in low and hitting the water, before pulling away — with a witness heard exclaiming "what the f***?".
The witness, who asked to not be named, told the ABC they were "just hoping they'd get back up and the motor didn't die".
The member of the public who reported the incident to the ATSB said they did so after they could not get answers as to what happened from the company.
"I am just disappointed that it never got reported from the pilots, when it was a clear incident involving terrain," said the person, who also asked to remain anonymous.
The ATSB concluded the helicopter crew did not follow "effective" communication and "decision-making" protocols, known as crew resource management, in the lead-up to the incident, which it said "could have been avoided".
McDermott Aviation Group promotes itself as Australia's "largest privately owned aviation company", with operations across the country and in the US, "Port Moresby, New Caledonia, Europe and Greece".
On the company website, it says it operates 13 Bell 214 "heavy lift" helicopters in its fleet
As well as other tasks, the company's helicopters have been involved in numerous firefighting operations in Tasmania.
McDermott Aviation has been contacted for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Nothing goes to waste': Aalborg Zoo in Denmark asks owners to donate pets as food for its predators
A Danish zoo has asked people with pets nearing life's end to donate the animals as food for its predators. In a Facebook post last Thursday that has since made international headlines, the Aalborg Zoo in northern Denmark said that it and other wildlife parks 'have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals – in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity'. 'Did you know that you can donate smaller pets to Aalborg Zoo?,' the post read. 'Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet of our predators – especially in the European locust, which needs whole prey, which is reminiscent of what it would naturally hunt in the wild. 'If you have an animal that has to leave here for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us. The animals are gently euthanised by trained staff and are afterwards used as fodder. That way, nothing goes to waste – and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators.' The post, which linked to a page on the zoo's website explaining that it also 'gratefully accepts live horses, which we euthanise and slaughter for feed', drew swift and fierce backlash. 'Feeding pets is absolutely unacceptable,' one Facebook user wrote, while another said it represented 'a terrible trend of indifference with animals in Denmark'. A third person called it a 'sick invention', with someone else writing, 'This is a joke right, no one would bring his healthy pet to a zoo so they can kill it and feed it to there (sic) animals.' Other Facebook users, however, praised the zoo's initiative and shared their own experiences with it. 'Took a horse to the zoo, a few years ago. It was the quietest and most serene way it went down,' one commented. 'It was the best experience for both horse and I. Sweet staff who took care of it in the finest way, and grateful for the donation. It could definitely be recommended.' Following 'much international interest', Aalborg Zoo said it had closed comments on its original post. 'We understand that the post awakens feelings and interest, but hateful and malicious rhetoric is not necessary – and we urge you to preserve the good tone,' it said. 'We elaborate and are happy to answer questions in the inbox or by email.' The zoo's deputy director, Pia Nielsen, told The Guardian that the program had been in place 'for many years'. 'When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones etc to give them as natural a diet as possible,' Ms Nielsen said. 'Therefore, it makes sense to allow animals that need to be euthanised for various reasons to be of use in this way. In Denmark, this practice is common, and many of our guests and partners appreciate the opportunity to contribute. The livestock we receive as donations are chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses.'
7NEWS
15 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Denmark zoo asks for donations of small ‘healthy' pets to feed predators
A zoo in Denmark is asking for donations of small pets as food for its predators. The Aalborg zoo said it is trying to mimic the natural food chain of the animals housed there 'for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity' and offers assurances the pets will be 'gently euthanised' by trained staff. The zoo in northern Denmark explained in a Facebook post that 'if you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us.' The zoo points to guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens as possible donations. After being euthanised, the animals will be used as fodder, the zoo said. 'That way, nothing goes to waste — and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and wellbeing of our predators,' the zoo said. The online call for pet donations is accompanied by a picture of a wildcat baring its teeth with its mouth wide open and a link to the zoo's website, noting the facility also is interested in receiving horses. The zoo, which could not immediately be reached for additional details, does not list other pets or animals as possible donations.
West Australian
16 hours ago
- West Australian
Zoo asks for small pets as food for captive predators
A zoo in Denmark is asking for donations of small pets as food for its predators. The Aalborg zoo said it is trying to mimic the natural food chain of the animals housed there "for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity" and offers assurances the pets will be "gently euthanised" by trained staff. The zoo in northern Denmark explained in a Facebook post that "if you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us." The zoo points to guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens as possible donations. After being euthanised, the animals will be used as fodder, the zoo said. "That way, nothing goes to waste — and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators," the zoo said. The online call for pet donations is accompanied by a picture of a wildcat baring its teeth with its mouth wide open and a link to the zoo's website, noting the facility also is interested in receiving horses. The zoo, which could not immediately be reached for additional details, does not list other pets or animals as possible donations.
