Fatal Hawks Nest helicopter crash investigation releases its findings
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) launched an investigation after the chopper's voyage from Cessnock towards the state's Mid North Coast on October 26, 2023.
It struck turbulence while passing over Yacaaba Headland near Hawks Nest "likely in the form of rapidly rising air", the regulator said.
The crash killed pilot Ed Kraft and his dog Roxy.
Mr Kraft, from Jindabyne, was flying to either the Kempsey or Forster areas with his dog on board when they disappeared.
"The helicopter was flying on autopilot at an indicated airspeed of 115 knots, 45 knots above the manufacturer's maximum recommended speed for flight in significant turbulence," ATSB director transport safety Stuart Macleod said.
"This speed ... reduced the time available for the pilot to respond by applying a gentle aft cyclic input to reload the main rotor disc."
Mr Macleod said the pilot had been eating and "had food in their right hand", meaning they used their left to deal with the change in conditions.
The shift to their left hand reduced their ability to slow the chopper's turn down in a timely manner, he said.
The investigation examined footage from an onboard video camera that it found showed the helicopter began rolling to the right, and the pilot "did not apply aft cyclic to reload the main rotor" enough to prevent it tipping further.
"Instead, the pilot progressively applied increasing left cyclic during the right roll, increasing the risk of an extreme teetering event, where the spindles of the main rotor contact the main rotor shaft, precipitating a breakup," Mr Macleod said.
Initial findings released in January last year revealed the main rotor had likely impacted the cabin, and struck and separated the tail boom, during the crash sequence.
After breaking up, the helicopter hit the waters of Providence Bay.
Police divers found the wreckage of the chopper on the ocean floor two days after the crash.
The finalised investigation alleged that an asymmetrical horizontal stabiliser fitted to Robinson series helicopters "significantly contributes to uncommanded right roll rates ... adding to the risk of an in-flight break-up" in certain conditions.
"Pleasingly, Robinson Helicopter Company has developed a symmetrical horizontal stabiliser that is being fitted to all new Robinson helicopters, and is available as a modification for all existing Robinson helicopters," Mr Macleod said.
Robinson R66 and R44 helicopters can be overhauled with the new part, and the company will also update safety notices to give pilots improved guidance around the risks.
"The modification significantly reduces the right roll if a lowG condition is encountered, allowing pilots more time to recognise and respond to the situation," Mr Macleod said.
FINDINGS into a helicopter breaking up mid-flight amid turbulence and sparking a crash that killed its pilot near Hawks Nest have been released.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) launched an investigation after the chopper's voyage from Cessnock towards the state's Mid North Coast on October 26, 2023.
It struck turbulence while passing over Yacaaba Headland near Hawks Nest "likely in the form of rapidly rising air", the regulator said.
The crash killed pilot Ed Kraft and his dog Roxy.
Mr Kraft, from Jindabyne, was flying to either the Kempsey or Forster areas with his dog on board when they disappeared.
"The helicopter was flying on autopilot at an indicated airspeed of 115 knots, 45 knots above the manufacturer's maximum recommended speed for flight in significant turbulence," ATSB director transport safety Stuart Macleod said.
"This speed ... reduced the time available for the pilot to respond by applying a gentle aft cyclic input to reload the main rotor disc."
Mr Macleod said the pilot had been eating and "had food in their right hand", meaning they used their left to deal with the change in conditions.
The shift to their left hand reduced their ability to slow the chopper's turn down in a timely manner, he said.
The investigation examined footage from an onboard video camera that it found showed the helicopter began rolling to the right, and the pilot "did not apply aft cyclic to reload the main rotor" enough to prevent it tipping further.
"Instead, the pilot progressively applied increasing left cyclic during the right roll, increasing the risk of an extreme teetering event, where the spindles of the main rotor contact the main rotor shaft, precipitating a breakup," Mr Macleod said.
Initial findings released in January last year revealed the main rotor had likely impacted the cabin, and struck and separated the tail boom, during the crash sequence.
After breaking up, the helicopter hit the waters of Providence Bay.
Police divers found the wreckage of the chopper on the ocean floor two days after the crash.
The finalised investigation alleged that an asymmetrical horizontal stabiliser fitted to Robinson series helicopters "significantly contributes to uncommanded right roll rates ... adding to the risk of an in-flight break-up" in certain conditions.
"Pleasingly, Robinson Helicopter Company has developed a symmetrical horizontal stabiliser that is being fitted to all new Robinson helicopters, and is available as a modification for all existing Robinson helicopters," Mr Macleod said.
Robinson R66 and R44 helicopters can be overhauled with the new part, and the company will also update safety notices to give pilots improved guidance around the risks.
"The modification significantly reduces the right roll if a lowG condition is encountered, allowing pilots more time to recognise and respond to the situation," Mr Macleod said.
FINDINGS into a helicopter breaking up mid-flight amid turbulence and sparking a crash that killed its pilot near Hawks Nest have been released.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) launched an investigation after the chopper's voyage from Cessnock towards the state's Mid North Coast on October 26, 2023.
It struck turbulence while passing over Yacaaba Headland near Hawks Nest "likely in the form of rapidly rising air", the regulator said.
The crash killed pilot Ed Kraft and his dog Roxy.
Mr Kraft, from Jindabyne, was flying to either the Kempsey or Forster areas with his dog on board when they disappeared.
"The helicopter was flying on autopilot at an indicated airspeed of 115 knots, 45 knots above the manufacturer's maximum recommended speed for flight in significant turbulence," ATSB director transport safety Stuart Macleod said.
"This speed ... reduced the time available for the pilot to respond by applying a gentle aft cyclic input to reload the main rotor disc."
Mr Macleod said the pilot had been eating and "had food in their right hand", meaning they used their left to deal with the change in conditions.
The shift to their left hand reduced their ability to slow the chopper's turn down in a timely manner, he said.
The investigation examined footage from an onboard video camera that it found showed the helicopter began rolling to the right, and the pilot "did not apply aft cyclic to reload the main rotor" enough to prevent it tipping further.
"Instead, the pilot progressively applied increasing left cyclic during the right roll, increasing the risk of an extreme teetering event, where the spindles of the main rotor contact the main rotor shaft, precipitating a breakup," Mr Macleod said.
Initial findings released in January last year revealed the main rotor had likely impacted the cabin, and struck and separated the tail boom, during the crash sequence.
After breaking up, the helicopter hit the waters of Providence Bay.
Police divers found the wreckage of the chopper on the ocean floor two days after the crash.
The finalised investigation alleged that an asymmetrical horizontal stabiliser fitted to Robinson series helicopters "significantly contributes to uncommanded right roll rates ... adding to the risk of an in-flight break-up" in certain conditions.
"Pleasingly, Robinson Helicopter Company has developed a symmetrical horizontal stabiliser that is being fitted to all new Robinson helicopters, and is available as a modification for all existing Robinson helicopters," Mr Macleod said.
Robinson R66 and R44 helicopters can be overhauled with the new part, and the company will also update safety notices to give pilots improved guidance around the risks.
"The modification significantly reduces the right roll if a lowG condition is encountered, allowing pilots more time to recognise and respond to the situation," Mr Macleod said.
FINDINGS into a helicopter breaking up mid-flight amid turbulence and sparking a crash that killed its pilot near Hawks Nest have been released.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) launched an investigation after the chopper's voyage from Cessnock towards the state's Mid North Coast on October 26, 2023.
It struck turbulence while passing over Yacaaba Headland near Hawks Nest "likely in the form of rapidly rising air", the regulator said.
The crash killed pilot Ed Kraft and his dog Roxy.
Mr Kraft, from Jindabyne, was flying to either the Kempsey or Forster areas with his dog on board when they disappeared.
"The helicopter was flying on autopilot at an indicated airspeed of 115 knots, 45 knots above the manufacturer's maximum recommended speed for flight in significant turbulence," ATSB director transport safety Stuart Macleod said.
"This speed ... reduced the time available for the pilot to respond by applying a gentle aft cyclic input to reload the main rotor disc."
Mr Macleod said the pilot had been eating and "had food in their right hand", meaning they used their left to deal with the change in conditions.
The shift to their left hand reduced their ability to slow the chopper's turn down in a timely manner, he said.
The investigation examined footage from an onboard video camera that it found showed the helicopter began rolling to the right, and the pilot "did not apply aft cyclic to reload the main rotor" enough to prevent it tipping further.
"Instead, the pilot progressively applied increasing left cyclic during the right roll, increasing the risk of an extreme teetering event, where the spindles of the main rotor contact the main rotor shaft, precipitating a breakup," Mr Macleod said.
Initial findings released in January last year revealed the main rotor had likely impacted the cabin, and struck and separated the tail boom, during the crash sequence.
After breaking up, the helicopter hit the waters of Providence Bay.
Police divers found the wreckage of the chopper on the ocean floor two days after the crash.
The finalised investigation alleged that an asymmetrical horizontal stabiliser fitted to Robinson series helicopters "significantly contributes to uncommanded right roll rates ... adding to the risk of an in-flight break-up" in certain conditions.
"Pleasingly, Robinson Helicopter Company has developed a symmetrical horizontal stabiliser that is being fitted to all new Robinson helicopters, and is available as a modification for all existing Robinson helicopters," Mr Macleod said.
Robinson R66 and R44 helicopters can be overhauled with the new part, and the company will also update safety notices to give pilots improved guidance around the risks.
"The modification significantly reduces the right roll if a lowG condition is encountered, allowing pilots more time to recognise and respond to the situation," Mr Macleod said.
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