Two helicopters collide - Gold Coast, Queensland - Sea World 2/1/2023

[megan]

I've heard of folk having close shaves, but this is as close as one can get, lucky people.

[helispotter]

An ABC recording of the full press conference by Angus Mitchell on the release of preliminary report can be found at:

You Tube

This includes his responses to various media questions.

A number of matters previously raised in this thread are covered in the press conference and/or the preliminary report.

[helispotter]

Originally Posted by megan

...this is as close as one can get, lucky people.

Well megan, taking that ATSB graphic one step further, if the rotor hadn't been torn out of the departing EC130 and it had continued to clime at same rate, seems like only one more revolution of the rotor and it would have tangled with the rotor of the landing EC130 (extrapolation in adapted graphic below). The outcome would surely then have been twice as bad.

The video from within the landing helicopter also suggests it made a sudden pitch-up motion before the collision with the canopy shattering. I don't think that was due to sudden cyclic input. I think it may have been due to an aerodynamic interaction between both main rotors when they came into close proximity to one another? The sort of interaction that would otherwise only be experienced by rotors on helicopters like Chinook or K-Max.

[megan]

Further reinforces my lucky people statement helispotter, unfortunately not so for those in the other aircraft.

Mid airs occur in the seemingly most benign circumstances, keep that head on a swivel.

You Tube

[Capt Fathom]

Seaworld Helicopters back in the air.... albeit with just one helo at present.