Pilot Debrief

EUROCOPTER EC120 near Hardy Reef, Queensland — 2018-03-21

Investigation ongoingWPR18WA110
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Date
2018-03-21
Location
Hardy Reef, Queensland, AU
Aircraft
EUROCOPTER EC120
Registration
VH-WII
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2

Probable cause

Investigated by a foreign authority; NTSB does not determine probable cause.

NTSB narrative

On March 21, 2018, about 1500 local time, a Eurocopter (Airbus Helicopters) EC120B helicopter, VH-WII, sustained substantial damage when it impacted water during an aborted landing attempt on a floating helicopter landing site (HLS) located between Hardy Reef and Hook Reef, in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Queensland, Australia. The helicopter was operated by Whitsunday Air Services Pty Ltd, and had departed Hamilton Island Airport, Queensland, on a charter flight to the HLS. The commercial pilot was uninjured, two passengers received minor injuries, and two passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Australia. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Australia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) P.O. Box 967, Civic Square Canberra A.C.T. 2608 Australia Tel: +612 6274 6054 Fax: +612 6274 6434 www.atsb.gov.au

NTSB coding

  • Unknown or undetermined · Approach-VFR go-around
  • Go-Around (VFR)

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