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

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6bc5316b13.png

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


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.

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.https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0a3d2cb333.jpg

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.

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.

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

Interim ATSB report released
 

Interim report ( 53 pages)

Good to see CAsA's DAMP works a treat...Not only was the pilot of -XKQ the CP & HOO, but also the AOD supervisor. Yet he's personally using cocaine as recently as 4 days prior to the accident. I can see lawyers sharpening their pitchforks over that little tidbit in the report - even if it says he wouldn't have been 'directly' impaired by it...

From the report:

"XKQ continued to climb relative to XH9 and both aircraft’s main rotor discs[6] passed through each other. A main rotor blade of XH9 had a scuff mark on the lower surface, about mid span..."

I just find it quite distasteful the ATSB would release the report on the anniversary of the accident. But that's just me!

It’s completely standard ICAO protocol:

was there any mention if the pilot flew in the previous 4 days prior to the accident or is there any way to find out if he did. if it had little to no effect at 4 days, one would assume the effect would have been stronger in the three previous days, particularly day one after taking the drugs

Yes that information is listed in the preliminary report linked further up

from preliminary report.
“Pilot of VH-XH9 72 hour history

In the days leading up to 2 January 2023, the pilot of XH9 worked and flew:

• 30 December – XH9 - 2.5 hours
• 31 December – XKQ - 1.2 hours – SWL 0.9 hours
• 1 January – XKQ - 5.0 hours
• 2 January – XH9 - 3.4 hours”

Kimie would be referring to the pilot of VH-XKQ, in which case the summary is as follows:

Pilot of VH-XKQ 72 hour history

On 30 December 2022 the pilot was rostered for work between 0900 and 1700. Records show they signed in at 08:32 and signed out at 20:22. They did not fly and conducted administrative tasks. Their sleep that night was said to be normal.

The next day 31 December was a rostered day off. The pilot worked around the house and spent time with their family. That evening, New Year’s Eve, they had a family gathering at their house and the pilot was reported to have retired at 0200.

On 1 January 2023, New Year’s Day was also a rostered day off. They woke at around 1030 and spent the day relaxing at home with their family.

On the morning of 2 January 2023, after 10 hours sleep they reported feeling good and left for work at around 0830. Colleagues reported that the pilot looked well and was in good spirits.