wait for the report, but...
I agree it is necessary to await the investigation; however, Richard seems to have had quite a time of it.
From the Administrative Tribunal Transcript:
"I have noted that CASA has given details of earlier incidents, but that it provided details in the reviewable decision of incidents which occurred in 2012, in particular at paragraph 28 of CASA’s written submissions as follows:
During the period 4 May - 15 May 2012, the applicant was involved in 4 incidents during which there was a risk of a collision with other aircraft;
During the first incident, on or around 9 May 2012, the applicant was the pilot in command of aircraft VH-GKK when he flew directly over another helicopter, registration VH-RPQ, at approximately 30 feet or less. The down wash from the applicant's helicopter caused the main rotor on helicopter VH-RPQ to bounce. The pilot in command of aircraft VH-RPQ had to operate the rotor brake harder to prevent a tail boom strike;
During a second incident, on or about 10 May 2012, the applicant was pilot in command of aircraft VH-GKK when he flew the aircraft sufficiently close to another aircraft, registration VH-JIF, that the tail rotor wash generated by VH-GKK moved aircraft VH-JIF causing it to turn through approximately 30 to 40 degrees. The pilots of aircraft VH-JIF had to physically hold the aircraft down in fear of it being blown into the fuel bowser;
During a third incident, on or about 10 May 2012, the applicant was the pilot in command of aircraft VH-GKK when he operated the aircraft in close proximity to a Cessna Caravan aircraft, causing a very real risk of a collision with that aircraft;
During a fourth incident, on or about 15 May 2012, the applicant was the pilot in command of aircraft VH-GKK when he operated it close to two Airvan aircraft in an unnecessary manoeuvre, creating risk of damage to those aircraft, or injury to persons in the vicinity of the aircraft, generated by his downdraft;
On 28 November 2012, the applicant was pilot in command of aircraft VH-GKK when it struck overhead power lines approximately 105m from the point of take off. The power line snagged on the fenestron of the helicopter and pulled the power line until it tore the top portion of the fenestron off VH-GKK, The applicant flew the aircraft a further 200m across the gully before landing and inspecting the damage. The damage was significant, and the aircraft was unsafe for further flight, however, despite this, the applicant then proceeded to fly the aircraft approximately 250 metres in breach of subsection 20AA(4) of the CAAct;
The applicant has previously, in 2007, been subject to Counselling (sic) by CASA, following an incident where the applicant was pilot in command of VH-GKK when the main rotor blades struck a tree while landing. The four main rotor blades sustained extensive damage, however, the damage was not recorded on the maintenance release, the applicant carried out unauthorised repairs, and the applicant undertook flights in the aircraft after carrying out the unauthorised repairs.[ [I]comment: he repaired the blades with glue, flew to Cairns from the boonies, but rather than get the helicopter repaired in Cairns at Eurocopter, he decided to fly all the way back to Terry Hills in the Sydney suburbs!]
The applicant has been involved in the past in 6 incidents which have resulted in Airservices Australia advising CASA of safety incidents."
The AAT was not very sympathetic. Oh well, we will see. Terribly, terribly sad: RIP.
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