The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), citing the fatal July 2020 crash of a Robinson R44 during a low-level aerial weed-spraying operation, is encouraging all pilots to wear helmets when conducting low-level operations.
The ATSB included the recommendation in Safety Advisory Notice AO-2020-040-SAN-01, issued March 4. Release of the notice coincided with publication of the ATSB’s final report on the July 31, 2020, crash of the R44 southeast of Hay, New South Wales. The crash killed the pilot, the only person in the helicopter, the ATSB said; the helicopter was substantially damaged. The final report said factors contributing to the accident included the pilot’s failure to conduct an aerial inspection before the flight to verify locations of hazards, including a powerline that had been identified during preflight planning.
“As the wire was very difficult to see, the pilot was unable to see and avoid the wire before the helicopter struck it,” the report said.
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