Chopper Crash Cairns

[BinChook]

A helicopter has crashed onto the top of the Doubletree Hilton in Cairns at around 2am. Very little details have emerged as yet. Hopefully the Pilot/crew has managed to escape.

[tail wheel]

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/12/helicopter-crashes-into-roof-of-cairns-hotel-in-early-hours-of-morning

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-12/far-north-queensland-cairns-helicopter-crash/104212296

[nomess]

Strange. Rescue 510 arrived at the Hospital from down south but didn’t appear to leave again, that was as a few hours prior to this. The impact was down near the lagoon also.

Military?

Tower Freq is dead quiet. Something off here.

[Cilba]

Hearsay only. It was a Nautilus Aviation owned helicopter. One pilot deceased. One non expert witness saw it fly past twice, low and fast before the impact. The witness did not see the actual accident.

[markis10]

Suspect it’s stolen/suicide, flight path on Webtrak is all over the place reaching 442ft after departure from cairns.

[helispotter]

ABC TV news now indicating it had been a "tourist helicopter" and that pilot has died. Their earlier news item pictured one of the rotor blades with yellow and white paint (which could make it consistent with, say, a Nautilus 206L [or R44 for that matter - see "Rotorheads" thread] as seen on web):

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-...rash/104212296

[roundsounds]

Originally Posted by markis10

Suspect it’s stolen/suicide, flight path on Webtrak is all over the place reaching 442ft after departure from cairns.

ASIC failure?

[Senior Pilot]

Discussion also here.

We will let both Threads run for now as there are significant issues for both Rotorheads and Dunnunda residents.

[Squawk7700]

Originally Posted by markis10

Suspect it’s stolen/suicide, flight path on Webtrak is all over the place reaching 442ft after departure from cairns.

That altitude does not take into consideration the barometric pressure, so unless it just so happened to be 1013.2, then it won't be the actual altitude.

[justinga]

Blade

There are reports of a R44 or 66 on the scene

[Roy Nolland]

ASIC failure?

Not really what the ASIC is designed to prevent. On the other hand, if it was theft or unauthorized use then you can bet good money that the CISC at the Department of Home Affairs will be taking a close look at this and perhaps reintroducing some of the surveillance measures we endured about 15 years ago.

[markis10]

Originally Posted by Squawk7700

That altitude does not take into consideration the barometric pressure, so unless it just so happened to be 1013.2, then it won't be the actual altitude.

Indeed, the track is more interesting than the transponder data, as is the aircraft id

[helispotter]

ATSB deploying 3 personnel from Brisbane according to their brief media release:

https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/2024/c...opter-accident

But if indeed this is a stolen helicopter, not clear if they would investigate much as was the case with the accident with the stolen Electricity Commission JetRanger, VH-EEC, in 1989:

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1989/aair/aair198902568

[Lookleft]

If they find that the accident was the result of criminal activity then they have the option of discontinuing the investigation. They will probably still send people up there though to make that decision for themselves.

[markis10]

Nautilus Aviation are working closely with Queensland Police, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities as they investigate the unauthorised use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning,” the company said in a statement to the ABC.

[gulliBell]

Originally Posted by Lookleft

If they find that the accident was the result of criminal activity...

It would have to be somebody with piloting experience...so even if stolen the ATSB and CASA should still run with it.

[nomess]

Originally Posted by markis10

Suspect it’s stolen/suicide, flight path on Webtrak is all over the place reaching 442ft after departure from cairns.

It’s been removed from Webtrak.

Didn’t appear on any other tracking sites. Webtrak obviously fed from ASA so one would assume it would have appeared on the Tower’s radar. No comms however on any frequency, including approach.

[gulliBell]

If you're gonna nick a helicopter you're probably not gonna make any radio broadcasts.

[Squawk7700]

Originally Posted by Lookleft

If they find that the accident was the result of criminal activity then they have the option of discontinuing the investigation. They will probably still send people up there though to make that decision for themselves.

Spot on. If you look closely at some of the more recent reports, they are classing them as some kind of minor report (I don't recall the exact terminology used) and closing them early on. Saves a heap of money. Most notable example was the guy with no licence that crashed on a beach in a plane that hadn't been maintained for like 10 years.

[MickG0105]

Originally Posted by gulliBell

If you're gonna nick a helicopter you're probably not gonna make any radio broadcasts.

And probably wouldn't bother with the transponder either.

If it was a Robbie and Nautilus are helping out, it was likely VH-YZM.