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

[megan]

I'd say the tail boom could have been cut off by the blades when the gearbox exited stage left, not a fact however at this stage. What staggers me is there were survivors in the crashed machine.

[DeltaT]

Seeing the video of it happening on the tv today up to just before the collision, I can't believe there wasn't two seperate flight paths for inbound and outbound traffic either side of the landing point. Looks like its one in the same on the video.

[MJA Chaser]

#7 News in Sydney just showed video taken from the back seat of the helicopter that landed, Its interesting to watch.
Comes up on this link: https://7news.com.au/video

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

Originally Posted by heli1

VH-XH...9??? Not possible ??

Australia has run out of 3 character combinations and has started using digits in the call signs.

Pax footage just released shows the rear left pax of the landing helo trying to alert the pilot by tapping him on the (right) shoulder. Pilot looks back just as the cockpit gets hit.

[helispotter]

Originally Posted by KiwiNedNZ

I added my edit to the post about the accident - not sure if it will get approved or not
My comments at the end in the Narrative box LOL

KiwiNedNZ: I share the view of megan that it is likely that the rotors of VH-XKQ cut off its own tail, presuming or course the tail was lost at the time of the collision rather than when the helicopter impacted the sandbank. I can imagine that if the rotors of VH-XKQ initially smashed through the cockpit of VH-XH9, they would have become destabilised and perhaps then one or more cut the tail, even if the rotor was still connected to the helicopter by that stage. The pilot may also have made an urgent control input if he saw the other helicopter in the last few moments before the collision.

I don't think you should be so harsh on people who help with developing ASN. It is a significant safety resource and any errors can be updated over time as better information becomes available. In this case, the person who made that contribution was probably just reading one of the early eye witness accounts that indicated that one helicopter cut off the tail of the other. I can also understand that an eye witness might think that as they probably just saw the collision in the blink of an eye and then the major parts falling separately. They would then have tried to process what they saw. I read about the Rotor-Work Bell 47G crash over Circular Quay many years back. A large number of witnesses saw it happen, and there were many interpretations of what occurred (of course along with the footage of it coming down which sadly included from the cameraman within the cabin).

[PoppaJo]

Originally Posted by MJA Chaser

#7 News in Sydney just showed video taken from the back seat of the helicopter that landed, Its interesting to watch.
Comes up on this link: https://7news.com.au/video

That is hard to watch, rear passengers had it in sight at least 7 seconds prior to impact.

[hargreaves99]

video is here, but i cant get it to play in any browser

https://7news.com.au/news/qld/inside...rash-c-9351688

[Cloudee]

Originally Posted by MJA Chaser

#7 News in Sydney just showed video taken from the back seat of the helicopter that landed, Its interesting to watch.
Comes up on this link: https://7news.com.au/video

Wow! The ATSB is going to have a very clear view of what happened. The left rear passenger looks like he was videoing in the general direction of the approaching helicopter and the guy next to him appears to be trying urgently to alert the pilot. This and other video along with CTAF audio that a previous poster said was recorded at Southport Airport (presumably to enable landing charges) will hopefully enable the ATSB to produce a meaningful and timely report.

[Bell_ringer]

Originally Posted by MJA Chaser

#7 News in Sydney just showed video taken from the back seat of the helicopter that landed, Its interesting to watch.
Comes up on this link: https://7news.com.au/video

Try this link if their site has issues. Pilot does not seem to ever look left at the LZ, very focused ahead of the aircraft.

You Tube

[brokenagain]

As the camera sweeps across the cockpit, you can see the departing helicopter in the bottom left corner of the cockpit windscreen. The pilots view of it
may have been blocked by the windscreen pillar. Tragic.

[MPN11]

Originally Posted by Bell_ringer

Try this link if their site has issues. Pilot does not seem to ever look left at the LZ, very focused ahead of the aircraft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0eRqLMlaSE

Thank you!

[hargreaves99]

I can't see the departing helicopter anywhere in that video, even when playing at slow speed

[helispotter]

Originally Posted by wondrousbitofrough

Can I just say that the language coming from the ATSB essentially describing the incident as 'not a bad result' is questionable. At least four families and the wider aviation community would say otherwise.

Part of the interview with the ATSB Chief Commissioner can be found here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-...hief/101823328

Worth listening to the entire video but in the latter part, his words were "could have had a far worse situation...". I don't think it is fair to interpret that as saying 'not a bad results'. In general, I feel ATSB staff are measured and stay factual with their media comments, and express sympathy for those involved. It wouldn't be an easy job to attend accidents where people have lost their lives or have been seriously injured. I don't envy them and emergency services personnel who have to attend such incidents or give media interviews.

[206Fan]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

I can't see the departing helicopter anywhere in that video, even when playing at slow speed

Have a close look at the Pilots Front Windshield from the Middle to the Bottom Left, the departing 130 can be seen climbing before it disappears from view!

[helispotter]

Originally Posted by brokenagain

As the camera sweeps across the cockpit, you can see the departing helicopter in the bottom left corner of the cockpit windscreen. The pilots view of it
may have been blocked by the windscreen pillar. Tragic.

MJA Chaser, Bell_ringer, brokenagain - I want you as pilots if you spotted the helicopter swiftly in that video. The departure helipad comes into view easily, but I had to look hard, frame by frame to see what may be the departing helicopter. Is the item circled in red (just above departure helipad) in screen shot below what you believe is that helicopter? At first I thought this was features on the ground. I can understand there may have been a lack of relative movement given they were on a collision course, but it doesn't seem to get larger in the few frames it is in view, and no sign of rotors but that may simply be due to the video frame rate. Or did you see something else? It sure puts the collision somewhat more into context.

[Southo]

Originally Posted by hargreaves99

I can't see the departing helicopter anywhere in that video, even when playing at slow speed

at 25 -27 sec.
Just in front of the A-Pillar in line with the 7News Logo

[Fliegenmong]

Yet the rear pax, middle seat (May or may not have any air crew training) spotted it 7 secs beforehand from a far more obscured viewing angle! ???

[Bell_ringer]

Originally Posted by helispotter

MJA Chaser, Bell_ringer, brokenagain - I want you as pilots if you spotted the helicopter swiftly in that video. The departing helipad comes into view easily, but I had to look hard, frame by frame to see what may be the departing helicopter. Is the item circled in red (just above departing helipad) in screen shot below what you believe is that helicopter? At first I thought this was features on the ground. I can understand there may have been a lack of relative movement given they were on a collision course, but it doesn't seem to get larger in the few frames it is in view, and no sign of rotors but that may simply be due to the video frame rate. Or did you see something else? It sure puts the collision somewhat more into context.

From the angle of the camera it is difficult to tell if that is/was the departing helicopter. The eye-level of the pax filming is higher and would have a clearer view, as should the pilot.
by 34 seconds he has gone from rapidly tapping to grasping the seat in what appears to be bracing for impact, moments later glass shatters.
Personally I would have expected a bit more head movement clearing left.
Maybe when flying in circles all day it is easy to just settle into a routine.
The other pax also was filming, and being a pleasure flight, there should be no shortage of onboard imagery from both aircraft.
It should not be too difficult to get to the bottom of what was a completely avoidable accident in clear conditions.

[Dink87522]

http://tiktok.com/@hairyrednuts/vide...app=v1&lang=en has a slightly longer version of the onboard impact video.

[Arm out the window]

Many many what-ifs.

Maybe it wouldn't have made any difference, as the pilot of the less damaged machine didn't seem to have the other one sighted at all prior to impact, but what strikes me from that rear pax video is how he (understandably) whacks the pilot on the shoulder to presumably draw his attention to the converging flight paths, but that gets the pilot looking to the right and inside at the exact point where he may have had a chance of evasive action. Probably too late at that stage anyhow, but just a sad observation.