Ultimately there was Sunfish yes, it's just debatable as to whether it was pre or post impact.
Foqa- didn't mean to suggest it didn't have a 430 or similar, but rather had a 396 which is the pseudo industry standard for experienced operators these days.
I'll draw conclusions for when the report comes out in late 2012. I've read enough reports to guess what it will say. Tongue in cheek but those around for a while know the drill. The frustrating part is that we will probably never know what really happened apart from the obvious waste of life.
Pilot suitably experienced and well rested but possibly limited recent NVFR time, unable to be determined based on flight records.
Flight departed after last light.
Tail rotor in-tact.
Main rotor in-tact.
Engine/s capable of delivering power and no evidence of catastrophic failure existed.
References to disorientation.
No information from instruments and gps equipment due to post impact fire.
If mechanical failure was a contributor, not enough height was available to perform a successful auto-rotation.
Similarities drawn to this and the other recent helicopter NVFR fatalities and the existing ATSB findings including the SAR chopper that went down off the coast of QLD.
Last edited by VH-XXX; 19th Aug 2011 at 23:25.