Investigation Summary
The mission began late on July 23, 2000, to retrieve a five-year-old boy suffering from croup. After picking up the child and his mother from Yaraandoo Station, the pilot noticed a high fuel burn rate and decided to divert to Marlborough to transfer the patient to a road ambulance. Upon arrival at Marlborough, the area was blanketed in thick fog. The pilot requested the ambulance officer on the ground to activate all external flashing lights to assist with visual acquisition. The pilot made several unsuccessful landing attempts over approximately 20 minutes. The ATSB investigation highlighted that the aircraft likely suffered from fuel starvation during these maneuvers because it had departed Rockhampton with insufficient fuel for the round trip. The investigation also noted that the use of the helicopter's searchlight in the fog could have created a whiteout effect, further disorienting the pilot. The wreckage was located in a paddock at Kenela Park, approximately one kilometer north-west of the township and 300 metres from the Bruce Highway intersection, after a search hampered by the same dense fog.
Final Conclusions
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) concluded that the primary factors were the pilot's decision to depart with insufficient fuel and the subsequent decision to attempt a landing in weather conditions below visual flight rules (VFR) minimums. The investigation found that fuel starvation likely occurred due to the low fuel state combined with aircraft attitudes during the landing attempts, causing the engine to lose power. A 2003 coronial inquest supported these findings, citing fuel exhaustion and heavy fog as the causes, and recommended a review of the state's aeromedical retrieval system.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Fuel System
The investigation found that low fuel levels likely led to fuel starvation when the aircraft's attitude during maneuvering interrupted the supply of remaining usable fuel to the engine.
Searchlight
The aircraft's searchlight was used during the landing attempt in fog, which investigators believe may have caused spatial disorientation through light reflection.
Interesting Facts
- 01The helicopter was owned by Grant Kenny Ocean Helicopters and leased to the rescue service.
- 02The pilot and two paramedics were killed alongside the five year old patient and his mother.
- 03The ATSB found the helicopter departed Rockhampton with insufficient fuel for the intended flight.
- 04The searchlight may have caused a whiteout effect by reflecting off fog droplets, denying the pilot visual reference.
- 05The crash site was located at a property known as Kenela Park.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Marlborough Helipad Construction
The local community raised funds to build a dedicated helipad with high-tech lighting and radio-activated communications to ensure safe landings in all weather conditions.
Aeromedical System Review
A coronial inquest recommended an independent review of the aeromedical retrieval system in Queensland following the accident.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · AIRPORT LEVEL · Coordinates are the estimate published in the entered by an editor. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.