The fatal crash of a Bell 206 helicopter in the Kosciuszko National Park in April this year is another case of a pilot continuing VFR flight into non-visual conditions, according to an ATSB report released this week.
VH-PRW was one of seven helicopters operating as a tour group that was attempting to fly from Canberra to Mangalore, Victoria, on 22 April when poor weather forced the group to make precautionary landings: two at Wagga Wagga and four at Wee Jasper.
The pilot of PRW, who held a PPL(H) but no instrument rating, landed by a road south of Wee Jasper, but later took off again and headed south into the high country.
Around 30 minutes later the helicopter collided with the ground in the Kosciuszko National Park. The aircraft was destroyed and the two people on board were both killed.
“The pilot initially made the right decision and landed the helicopter,” said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell.
“However, you’re only as safe as your last decision, and the pilot’s then decision to launch again and push on–for reasons that we will never fully comprehend–put the helicopter into a dangerous environment with powerful and misleading orientation sensations and no visual cues.
“It is highly likely these cloud and visibility conditions resulted in the pilot experiencing a loss of visual reference and probably becoming spatially disoriented.
"Tragically, this led to a loss of control of the helicopter and an unsurvivable collision with terrain.”
PRW left Majura, ACT, at 1021 on the day of the accident and tracked south, turning westward around the base of Canberra. The pilot failed to find a way through the range in the region of Corin Dam, so headed north to Wee Jasper before turning south again.
At 1129, the pilot elected to land alongside Long Plain Road having failed to find a way through to Tumut. The aircraft remained there until 1453, when the pilot elected to attempt to find a way through the ranges again.
The aircraft tracked south to Anglers Reach, climing to 7000 feet before turning north again. At 1526, the aircraft entered a steep, descending left turn before impacting the ground at 4500 feet 18 nm NW of Adaminaby.
"Don’t push on,” Mitchell urged VFR pilots.
“Pushing on into cloud and low visibility when you do not hold the appropriate rating and experience carries a significant risk of severe spatial disorientation and can affect any pilot, no matter what their level of experience.”
The full report is on the ATSB website.