It looks like VH-RYW. Not certain though. Owned by an ex-farmer now commercial pilot and leased to Heli-charters here in Cairns. At the time being used to inspect a partially completed resort development which has produced huge amount of protest and controversy.
Haven't much more to add than what's already posted. But the passenger mentioned turbulence on the local news.
I fly past that spot a lot and in strong south easter (which we have been having for a week or so) it is treacherous. It's in the lee of the hills of the cape with rolling wave turbulence that reaches out well past the cape. I always get clearance to track wide of the cape because of it.
Purely speculation but maybe they got into some overpowering downdraught or wave turbulance etc etc.
For the superstitious: The local aboriginal people are now saying the resort development and the cape are cursed. Has been a death in a excavator driver (big rock rolled on him.) A number of bad equipment accidents and bad weather causing lots of the retaining walls etc to wash away.
Maybe it wasn't turbulence at all
