The crash of an ABC helicopter near Lake Eyre in 2011 has forced changes to helicopter night operations.
Night operations with passengers will now require either two pilots or an autopilot.
The Aérospatiale Twin Squirrel, registered VH-NTV, was operating in an area southeast of Lake Eyre in August 2011 when it crashed shortly after take-off on a night flight. Among those lost was popular pilot Gary Ticehurst, journalist Paul Lockyer and cameraman John Bean.
The ATSB report released this week concluded that the accident occured as a result of the pilot experiencing a very high work load and the night being particularly dark.
"The ATSB found that the pilot probably selected an incorrect destination on one or both of the helicopter's GPS units prior to departure," the reports states. "The ATSB concluded that after initiating the right turn at 1500 feet, the pilot probably became spatially disorientated.
"Factors contributing to the disorientation included dark night conditions, high pilot work load associated with establishing the helicopter in cruise flight and probably attempting to correct the fly-to point in a GPS unit, the pilot's limited recent night flying and instrument flying experience, and the helicopter not being equipped with an autopilot."
The ATSB also identified safety issues with the existing regulatory requirements that permitted flight under the VFR in dark night conditions that are effectively the same as IMC, but without the same level of safety provided by IFR flight.
Check the ATSB website for the full report.