Fatal Helicopter Crash Western Australia 3rd September 11

[Rotor Work]

Herald Sun update with Pilots name (deceased) & Helicopter type

Pilot in fatal WA chopper crash identified | Herald Sun (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/pilot-in-fatal-wa-chopper-crash-identified/story-e6frf7jx-1226129179596)

POLICE are continuing to assess the crash scene where a helicopter pilot was killed and his passenger seriously injured in Western Australia's midwest.

Matthew Charles Wilson, 37, crashed his Robinson R44 helicopter about 11.00am (WST) yesterday, about 240km north of Meekatharra.

His 23-year-old male passenger, an Irish backpacker working for a survey company, was seriously injured and was taken to Royal Perth Hospital.

The body of Mr Wilson, who was from Queensland, was flown to Newman for formal identification, which will be completed next week.

Police, helped by workers from a local cattle station, began the recovery operation at the crash site on this morning.

It is likely the operation will continue for some time due to the difficulty reaching the scene, police said.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the crash.

RIP

[John Eacott]

The ATSB final report is here, (http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-109.aspx) and makes for very sober reading :sad:

What happened
On 3 September 2011, the pilot and one crewman of a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 helicopter, registered VH-HCA (HCA), departed an airstrip located near Kumarina roadhouse, approximately 150 km south of Newman, Western Australia. The crew were conducting low-level geophysical survey operations when the pilot was observed to have slumped forward in the seat. The crewman, who was seated behind the pilot, made unsuccessful attempts to rouse the pilot. The helicopter subsequently impacted terrain causing significant injuries to the crewman and pilot. After the impact the pilot regained consciousness but later succumbed to his injuries prior to the arrival of medical assistance.

What the ATSB found
The investigation found that, following the pilot’s probable incapacitation during flight, the helicopter’s descent could not be arrested before impacting terrain. It was likely that the incapacitation was of a similar nature to other previous unconsciousness events reported experienced by the pilot while not flying.
The pilot held a Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate with no restrictions, despite inconsistencies in recorded information in the pilot’s aviation medical questionnaires, and one previous unconsciousness episode being recorded. If information about the pilot’s medical history had been accurately documented and included on the medical questionnaires, further medical tests may have been required and the results used to better assess the pilot’s current medical status.

[topendtorque]

makes for very sober reading http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/puppy_dog_eyes.gif

Indeed, do we know how the Irish gentleman is? I hope he was given suitable assistance.
Can hardly be blaming the operator for this accident, although statistically I guess it will go against their record.

[gulliBell]

...Pacific had a similar accident in PNG (quite a few years ago now) where the pilot was incapacitated and the aircraft flew into the sea. The passengers all survived and the pilot was recovered to the shore but he died shortly after.