Latest news with #MRH-90
The Advertiser
13-06-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
'We started a fire': ADF criticised over major blaze
The Australian Defence Force knew about fire risks posed by its aircraft years before an army helicopter sparked a catastrophic blaze that razed most of a national park during Black Summer, a coroner has found. The fire was ignited by the searchlight on an ADF MRH-90 Taipan helicopter, known as ANGEL21, when the crew landed for a toilet break while on a reconnaissance mission outside Canberra on January 27, 2020. The fire quickly spread from the Orroral Valley and went on to burn more than 82,000 hectares of the Namadgi National Park, causing significant damage to the environment and Indigenous sites. The ADF knew about the risk of the lights, which can reach temperatures as high as 500C after 10 minutes of use, after a Black Hawk helicopter ignited a grass fire in 2013, ACT Chief Coroner Lorraine Walker said in inquiry findings handed down on Friday. But while a warning about the lights was added to the Black Hawk flight manuals, it was not included in the MRH-90 document. "The situation is unlikely to have arisen had the aircrew been made aware through the MRH-90 flight manual of the risk of fire associated with landing lights," Ms Walker said in the ACT Coroners Court. "This failure reflects a systemic failure to apply the lesson learned in one context ... to the broader yet patently alike context of another aircraft utilising similar technology." The crew, who had been tasked to identify safe helicopter landing points as bushfires raged across southern NSW, were within their rights to stop for a break, the coroner found. But they made an error of judgment by failing to report the fire to their superiors and other authorities. The inquiry heard the crew noticed the fire soon after landing at 1.38pm, with a flight recording capturing one crew member saying: "We started the fire. We started a fire." As the flames moved towards the fuselage and the crew prepared to take off, another crew member was recorded saying: "Yep f***ing searchlight. Dammit." The crew made an emergency call at 1.45pm to report fire damage to the helicopter, but did not alert anyone to the blaze. When asked why he didn't immediately raise the alarm about the bushfire, the pilot said he was concerned the helicopter could "fall from the sky at any moment". Ms Walker said the situation was clearly frightening for the crew, but they should have reported the fire at a time of heightened risk. "It must have been obvious to any thinking person that a delay in reporting the fire could potentially impact the capacity of the relevant organisations to respond to it," she said. During the inquiry, the federal government did not dispute the searchlight had ignited the fire. Ms Walker made several recommendations, including that the findings from incident reports be shared across the ADF and included in any risk and training materials. The Australian Defence Force knew about fire risks posed by its aircraft years before an army helicopter sparked a catastrophic blaze that razed most of a national park during Black Summer, a coroner has found. The fire was ignited by the searchlight on an ADF MRH-90 Taipan helicopter, known as ANGEL21, when the crew landed for a toilet break while on a reconnaissance mission outside Canberra on January 27, 2020. The fire quickly spread from the Orroral Valley and went on to burn more than 82,000 hectares of the Namadgi National Park, causing significant damage to the environment and Indigenous sites. The ADF knew about the risk of the lights, which can reach temperatures as high as 500C after 10 minutes of use, after a Black Hawk helicopter ignited a grass fire in 2013, ACT Chief Coroner Lorraine Walker said in inquiry findings handed down on Friday. But while a warning about the lights was added to the Black Hawk flight manuals, it was not included in the MRH-90 document. "The situation is unlikely to have arisen had the aircrew been made aware through the MRH-90 flight manual of the risk of fire associated with landing lights," Ms Walker said in the ACT Coroners Court. "This failure reflects a systemic failure to apply the lesson learned in one context ... to the broader yet patently alike context of another aircraft utilising similar technology." The crew, who had been tasked to identify safe helicopter landing points as bushfires raged across southern NSW, were within their rights to stop for a break, the coroner found. But they made an error of judgment by failing to report the fire to their superiors and other authorities. The inquiry heard the crew noticed the fire soon after landing at 1.38pm, with a flight recording capturing one crew member saying: "We started the fire. We started a fire." As the flames moved towards the fuselage and the crew prepared to take off, another crew member was recorded saying: "Yep f***ing searchlight. Dammit." The crew made an emergency call at 1.45pm to report fire damage to the helicopter, but did not alert anyone to the blaze. When asked why he didn't immediately raise the alarm about the bushfire, the pilot said he was concerned the helicopter could "fall from the sky at any moment". Ms Walker said the situation was clearly frightening for the crew, but they should have reported the fire at a time of heightened risk. "It must have been obvious to any thinking person that a delay in reporting the fire could potentially impact the capacity of the relevant organisations to respond to it," she said. During the inquiry, the federal government did not dispute the searchlight had ignited the fire. Ms Walker made several recommendations, including that the findings from incident reports be shared across the ADF and included in any risk and training materials. The Australian Defence Force knew about fire risks posed by its aircraft years before an army helicopter sparked a catastrophic blaze that razed most of a national park during Black Summer, a coroner has found. The fire was ignited by the searchlight on an ADF MRH-90 Taipan helicopter, known as ANGEL21, when the crew landed for a toilet break while on a reconnaissance mission outside Canberra on January 27, 2020. The fire quickly spread from the Orroral Valley and went on to burn more than 82,000 hectares of the Namadgi National Park, causing significant damage to the environment and Indigenous sites. The ADF knew about the risk of the lights, which can reach temperatures as high as 500C after 10 minutes of use, after a Black Hawk helicopter ignited a grass fire in 2013, ACT Chief Coroner Lorraine Walker said in inquiry findings handed down on Friday. But while a warning about the lights was added to the Black Hawk flight manuals, it was not included in the MRH-90 document. "The situation is unlikely to have arisen had the aircrew been made aware through the MRH-90 flight manual of the risk of fire associated with landing lights," Ms Walker said in the ACT Coroners Court. "This failure reflects a systemic failure to apply the lesson learned in one context ... to the broader yet patently alike context of another aircraft utilising similar technology." The crew, who had been tasked to identify safe helicopter landing points as bushfires raged across southern NSW, were within their rights to stop for a break, the coroner found. But they made an error of judgment by failing to report the fire to their superiors and other authorities. The inquiry heard the crew noticed the fire soon after landing at 1.38pm, with a flight recording capturing one crew member saying: "We started the fire. We started a fire." As the flames moved towards the fuselage and the crew prepared to take off, another crew member was recorded saying: "Yep f***ing searchlight. Dammit." The crew made an emergency call at 1.45pm to report fire damage to the helicopter, but did not alert anyone to the blaze. When asked why he didn't immediately raise the alarm about the bushfire, the pilot said he was concerned the helicopter could "fall from the sky at any moment". Ms Walker said the situation was clearly frightening for the crew, but they should have reported the fire at a time of heightened risk. "It must have been obvious to any thinking person that a delay in reporting the fire could potentially impact the capacity of the relevant organisations to respond to it," she said. During the inquiry, the federal government did not dispute the searchlight had ignited the fire. Ms Walker made several recommendations, including that the findings from incident reports be shared across the ADF and included in any risk and training materials. The Australian Defence Force knew about fire risks posed by its aircraft years before an army helicopter sparked a catastrophic blaze that razed most of a national park during Black Summer, a coroner has found. The fire was ignited by the searchlight on an ADF MRH-90 Taipan helicopter, known as ANGEL21, when the crew landed for a toilet break while on a reconnaissance mission outside Canberra on January 27, 2020. The fire quickly spread from the Orroral Valley and went on to burn more than 82,000 hectares of the Namadgi National Park, causing significant damage to the environment and Indigenous sites. The ADF knew about the risk of the lights, which can reach temperatures as high as 500C after 10 minutes of use, after a Black Hawk helicopter ignited a grass fire in 2013, ACT Chief Coroner Lorraine Walker said in inquiry findings handed down on Friday. But while a warning about the lights was added to the Black Hawk flight manuals, it was not included in the MRH-90 document. "The situation is unlikely to have arisen had the aircrew been made aware through the MRH-90 flight manual of the risk of fire associated with landing lights," Ms Walker said in the ACT Coroners Court. "This failure reflects a systemic failure to apply the lesson learned in one context ... to the broader yet patently alike context of another aircraft utilising similar technology." The crew, who had been tasked to identify safe helicopter landing points as bushfires raged across southern NSW, were within their rights to stop for a break, the coroner found. But they made an error of judgment by failing to report the fire to their superiors and other authorities. The inquiry heard the crew noticed the fire soon after landing at 1.38pm, with a flight recording capturing one crew member saying: "We started the fire. We started a fire." As the flames moved towards the fuselage and the crew prepared to take off, another crew member was recorded saying: "Yep f***ing searchlight. Dammit." The crew made an emergency call at 1.45pm to report fire damage to the helicopter, but did not alert anyone to the blaze. When asked why he didn't immediately raise the alarm about the bushfire, the pilot said he was concerned the helicopter could "fall from the sky at any moment". Ms Walker said the situation was clearly frightening for the crew, but they should have reported the fire at a time of heightened risk. "It must have been obvious to any thinking person that a delay in reporting the fire could potentially impact the capacity of the relevant organisations to respond to it," she said. During the inquiry, the federal government did not dispute the searchlight had ignited the fire. Ms Walker made several recommendations, including that the findings from incident reports be shared across the ADF and included in any risk and training materials.
Perth Now
13-06-2025
- General
- Perth Now
'We started a fire': ADF criticised over major blaze
The Australian Defence Force knew about fire risks posed by its aircraft years before an army helicopter sparked a catastrophic blaze that razed most of a national park during Black Summer, a coroner has found. The fire was ignited by the searchlight on an ADF MRH-90 Taipan helicopter, known as ANGEL21, when the crew landed for a toilet break while on a reconnaissance mission outside Canberra on January 27, 2020. The fire quickly spread from the Orroral Valley and went on to burn more than 82,000 hectares of the Namadgi National Park, causing significant damage to the environment and Indigenous sites. The ADF knew about the risk of the lights, which can reach temperatures as high as 500C after 10 minutes of use, after a Black Hawk helicopter ignited a grass fire in 2013, ACT Chief Coroner Lorraine Walker said in inquiry findings handed down on Friday. But while a warning about the lights was added to the Black Hawk flight manuals, it was not included in the MRH-90 document. "The situation is unlikely to have arisen had the aircrew been made aware through the MRH-90 flight manual of the risk of fire associated with landing lights," Ms Walker said in the ACT Coroners Court. "This failure reflects a systemic failure to apply the lesson learned in one context ... to the broader yet patently alike context of another aircraft utilising similar technology." The crew, who had been tasked to identify safe helicopter landing points as bushfires raged across southern NSW, were within their rights to stop for a break, the coroner found. But they made an error of judgment by failing to report the fire to their superiors and other authorities. The inquiry heard the crew noticed the fire soon after landing at 1.38pm, with a flight recording capturing one crew member saying: "We started the fire. We started a fire." As the flames moved towards the fuselage and the crew prepared to take off, another crew member was recorded saying: "Yep f***ing searchlight. Dammit." The crew made an emergency call at 1.45pm to report fire damage to the helicopter, but did not alert anyone to the blaze. When asked why he didn't immediately raise the alarm about the bushfire, the pilot said he was concerned the helicopter could "fall from the sky at any moment". Ms Walker said the situation was clearly frightening for the crew, but they should have reported the fire at a time of heightened risk. "It must have been obvious to any thinking person that a delay in reporting the fire could potentially impact the capacity of the relevant organisations to respond to it," she said. During the inquiry, the federal government did not dispute the searchlight had ignited the fire. Ms Walker made several recommendations, including that the findings from incident reports be shared across the ADF and included in any risk and training materials.
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Army pilot took 'evasive action' before fatal crash
The pilot of an army chopper that crashed and killed all four on board took action to avoid a mid-air collision with another aircraft, a defence report reveals. The Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash on July 28, 2023 was released on Wednesday. Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed when their helicopter crashed into waters in the Whitsundays during Exercise Talisman Sabre. The investigation found the primary cause of the tragedy was "spatial disorientation", which happens when a pilot misperceives the position of their aircraft in relation to the surrounding environment. It concluded that the pilots were likely experiencing a level of fatigue shown to "impede optimal performance" and increase susceptibility to spatial disorientation. "The estimated level of fatigue ... was considered sufficient to affect their actions and decisions in the event," the report said. The crew, from the Sydney-based 6th Aviation Regiment, were flying in a helicopter given the call-sign Bushman 83, which was the third in a formation of four aircraft as part of a training exercise. The report found that after making a turn, Bushman 83 climbed more than 100 feet within 14 seconds. Cockpit voice recordings revealed there were no communications between the choppers for the period of the climb. But a recording from inside Bushman 83 heard the co-pilot ask "have you still got ('em)". The aircraft pilot replied "yeah still got ('em) mate". It was found the aircraft pilot "almost certainly" lost sight of the helicopter ahead in the formation, Bushman 82. The report stated the aircraft pilot of Bushman 83 likely didn't know the chopper was facing nose down and combined with a lack of recognition of the aircraft's increasing airspeed "resulted in a very high and unrecoverable rate of descent towards the water". The two helicopters came within 50m of each other, with Bushman 83's aircraft captain taking action to avoid a mid-air collision. The report found the helicopters were conducting manoeuvres during rain showers which limited visibility. The chopper was flying with its cabin doors closed which also restricted visibility. The report identified 196 findings, resulting in 46 recommendations across the Defence Aviation Safety Program. All of the recommendations have been accepted by the Defence Aviation Authority, which has committed to their implementation. The aviation safety investigation has been labelled one of the most complex conducted by Defence in recent history. Defence All-hours Support Line (ASL) - 1800 628 036 Defence Member and Family Support - 1800 624 608 Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling - 1800 011 046 Lifeline - 13 11 14 The pilot of an army chopper that crashed and killed all four on board took action to avoid a mid-air collision with another aircraft, a defence report reveals. The Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash on July 28, 2023 was released on Wednesday. Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed when their helicopter crashed into waters in the Whitsundays during Exercise Talisman Sabre. The investigation found the primary cause of the tragedy was "spatial disorientation", which happens when a pilot misperceives the position of their aircraft in relation to the surrounding environment. It concluded that the pilots were likely experiencing a level of fatigue shown to "impede optimal performance" and increase susceptibility to spatial disorientation. "The estimated level of fatigue ... was considered sufficient to affect their actions and decisions in the event," the report said. The crew, from the Sydney-based 6th Aviation Regiment, were flying in a helicopter given the call-sign Bushman 83, which was the third in a formation of four aircraft as part of a training exercise. The report found that after making a turn, Bushman 83 climbed more than 100 feet within 14 seconds. Cockpit voice recordings revealed there were no communications between the choppers for the period of the climb. But a recording from inside Bushman 83 heard the co-pilot ask "have you still got ('em)". The aircraft pilot replied "yeah still got ('em) mate". It was found the aircraft pilot "almost certainly" lost sight of the helicopter ahead in the formation, Bushman 82. The report stated the aircraft pilot of Bushman 83 likely didn't know the chopper was facing nose down and combined with a lack of recognition of the aircraft's increasing airspeed "resulted in a very high and unrecoverable rate of descent towards the water". The two helicopters came within 50m of each other, with Bushman 83's aircraft captain taking action to avoid a mid-air collision. The report found the helicopters were conducting manoeuvres during rain showers which limited visibility. The chopper was flying with its cabin doors closed which also restricted visibility. The report identified 196 findings, resulting in 46 recommendations across the Defence Aviation Safety Program. All of the recommendations have been accepted by the Defence Aviation Authority, which has committed to their implementation. The aviation safety investigation has been labelled one of the most complex conducted by Defence in recent history. Defence All-hours Support Line (ASL) - 1800 628 036 Defence Member and Family Support - 1800 624 608 Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling - 1800 011 046 Lifeline - 13 11 14 The pilot of an army chopper that crashed and killed all four on board took action to avoid a mid-air collision with another aircraft, a defence report reveals. The Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash on July 28, 2023 was released on Wednesday. Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed when their helicopter crashed into waters in the Whitsundays during Exercise Talisman Sabre. The investigation found the primary cause of the tragedy was "spatial disorientation", which happens when a pilot misperceives the position of their aircraft in relation to the surrounding environment. It concluded that the pilots were likely experiencing a level of fatigue shown to "impede optimal performance" and increase susceptibility to spatial disorientation. "The estimated level of fatigue ... was considered sufficient to affect their actions and decisions in the event," the report said. The crew, from the Sydney-based 6th Aviation Regiment, were flying in a helicopter given the call-sign Bushman 83, which was the third in a formation of four aircraft as part of a training exercise. The report found that after making a turn, Bushman 83 climbed more than 100 feet within 14 seconds. Cockpit voice recordings revealed there were no communications between the choppers for the period of the climb. But a recording from inside Bushman 83 heard the co-pilot ask "have you still got ('em)". The aircraft pilot replied "yeah still got ('em) mate". It was found the aircraft pilot "almost certainly" lost sight of the helicopter ahead in the formation, Bushman 82. The report stated the aircraft pilot of Bushman 83 likely didn't know the chopper was facing nose down and combined with a lack of recognition of the aircraft's increasing airspeed "resulted in a very high and unrecoverable rate of descent towards the water". The two helicopters came within 50m of each other, with Bushman 83's aircraft captain taking action to avoid a mid-air collision. The report found the helicopters were conducting manoeuvres during rain showers which limited visibility. The chopper was flying with its cabin doors closed which also restricted visibility. The report identified 196 findings, resulting in 46 recommendations across the Defence Aviation Safety Program. All of the recommendations have been accepted by the Defence Aviation Authority, which has committed to their implementation. The aviation safety investigation has been labelled one of the most complex conducted by Defence in recent history. Defence All-hours Support Line (ASL) - 1800 628 036 Defence Member and Family Support - 1800 624 608 Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling - 1800 011 046 Lifeline - 13 11 14 The pilot of an army chopper that crashed and killed all four on board took action to avoid a mid-air collision with another aircraft, a defence report reveals. The Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash on July 28, 2023 was released on Wednesday. Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed when their helicopter crashed into waters in the Whitsundays during Exercise Talisman Sabre. The investigation found the primary cause of the tragedy was "spatial disorientation", which happens when a pilot misperceives the position of their aircraft in relation to the surrounding environment. It concluded that the pilots were likely experiencing a level of fatigue shown to "impede optimal performance" and increase susceptibility to spatial disorientation. "The estimated level of fatigue ... was considered sufficient to affect their actions and decisions in the event," the report said. The crew, from the Sydney-based 6th Aviation Regiment, were flying in a helicopter given the call-sign Bushman 83, which was the third in a formation of four aircraft as part of a training exercise. The report found that after making a turn, Bushman 83 climbed more than 100 feet within 14 seconds. Cockpit voice recordings revealed there were no communications between the choppers for the period of the climb. But a recording from inside Bushman 83 heard the co-pilot ask "have you still got ('em)". The aircraft pilot replied "yeah still got ('em) mate". It was found the aircraft pilot "almost certainly" lost sight of the helicopter ahead in the formation, Bushman 82. The report stated the aircraft pilot of Bushman 83 likely didn't know the chopper was facing nose down and combined with a lack of recognition of the aircraft's increasing airspeed "resulted in a very high and unrecoverable rate of descent towards the water". The two helicopters came within 50m of each other, with Bushman 83's aircraft captain taking action to avoid a mid-air collision. The report found the helicopters were conducting manoeuvres during rain showers which limited visibility. The chopper was flying with its cabin doors closed which also restricted visibility. The report identified 196 findings, resulting in 46 recommendations across the Defence Aviation Safety Program. All of the recommendations have been accepted by the Defence Aviation Authority, which has committed to their implementation. The aviation safety investigation has been labelled one of the most complex conducted by Defence in recent history. Defence All-hours Support Line (ASL) - 1800 628 036 Defence Member and Family Support - 1800 624 608 Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling - 1800 011 046 Lifeline - 13 11 14
7NEWS
21-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Defence releases report into deadly 2023 Taipan helicopter crash
The Australian Defence Force has released its final report into the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash that killed four soldiers during a training exercise. Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph 'Phillip' Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs died when their helicopter went down near the Whitsunday Islands, off Queensland 's coast, on July 28, 2023, while on night training exercise Talisman Sabre. The newly released Aviation Safety Investigation Report confirms the primary cause of the crash was 'an unrecognised loss of spatial orientation'. 'This refers to a situation where a pilot is unaware of their actual orientation in relation to the earth's surface and the surrounding environment,' the Defence Aviation Authority said in a statement. The report aims to prevent similar tragedies in future. 'This was one of the most complex aviation safety investigations we've ever done,' the authority confirmed. The report lists 196 findings and makes 46 recommendations to improve safety. Defence said it is already working on every recommendation. The authority confirmed the safety of its aviation teams and affected families remains a top priority. The findings have been handed over to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, Comcare, and are also being sent to the Queensland Coroner. Following the incident, the MRH-90 helicopter fleet was permanently grounded and replaced with US-made Black Hawks. If this story has caused distress, support is available:
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Perth Now
Army pilot took 'evasive action' before fatal crash
The pilot of an army chopper that crashed and killed all four on board took action to avoid a mid-air collision with another aircraft, a defence report reveals. The Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash on July 28, 2023 was released on Wednesday. Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed when their helicopter crashed into waters in the Whitsundays during Exercise Talisman Sabre. The investigation found the primary cause of the tragedy was "spatial disorientation", which happens when a pilot misperceives the position of their aircraft in relation to the surrounding environment. It concluded that the pilots were likely experiencing a level of fatigue shown to "impede optimal performance" and increase susceptibility to spatial disorientation. "The estimated level of fatigue ... was considered sufficient to affect their actions and decisions in the event," the report said. The crew, from the Sydney-based 6th Aviation Regiment, were flying in a helicopter given the call-sign Bushman 83, which was the third in a formation of four aircraft as part of a training exercise. The report found that after making a turn, Bushman 83 climbed more than 100 feet within 14 seconds. Cockpit voice recordings revealed there were no communications between the choppers for the period of the climb. But a recording from inside Bushman 83 heard the co-pilot ask "have you still got ('em)". The aircraft pilot replied "yeah still got ('em) mate". It was found the aircraft pilot "almost certainly" lost sight of the helicopter ahead in the formation, Bushman 82. The report stated the aircraft pilot of Bushman 83 likely didn't know the chopper was facing nose down and combined with a lack of recognition of the aircraft's increasing airspeed "resulted in a very high and unrecoverable rate of descent towards the water". The two helicopters came within 50m of each other, with Bushman 83's aircraft captain taking action to avoid a mid-air collision. The report found the helicopters were conducting manoeuvres during rain showers which limited visibility. The chopper was flying with its cabin doors closed which also restricted visibility. The report identified 196 findings, resulting in 46 recommendations across the Defence Aviation Safety Program. All of the recommendations have been accepted by the Defence Aviation Authority, which has committed to their implementation. The aviation safety investigation has been labelled one of the most complex conducted by Defence in recent history. Defence All-hours Support Line (ASL) - 1800 628 036 Defence Member and Family Support - 1800 624 608 Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling - 1800 011 046 Lifeline - 13 11 14
