German experts commissioned by ATSB to join 2023 Sea World helicopter crash investigation

One year on from the fatal mid-air collision involving two helicopters near Sea World on the Gold Coast, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has advised it has commissioned a company in Germany to recreate the sightlines from within the two helicopter cockpits.

The ATSB hopes the 3D recreation will help determine what the pilots would have seen in the moments leading up to the fatal mid-air collision.

The fatal mid-air collision between two helicopters occurred on 2nd January 2023, over the Gold Coast’s Broadwater estuary.

Sea World Helicopters chief pilot Ashley Jenkinson, New South Wales woman Vanessa Tadros and UK couple Diane and Ron Hughes died when the two helicopters crashed into each other as one took off and the other prepared to land.

Three passengers, including two children, were also critically injured in the 2023 tragedy.

In March 2023, findings from the initial investigation into the collision of the helicopters by the ATSB said the pilot of the helicopter coming into land did not hear a call over the radio by the pilot taking off.

Commenting on the initial findings, ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the helicopters were operating outside controlled airspace, flying below 1,500 feet (457 metres) and both following the same counter-clockwise flight route, advising that that "the two helicopters collided at an altitude of about 130 feet, 23 seconds into the departing helicopter's flight.”

The pilot of the returning helicopter told the ATSB investigation he had seen passengers being loaded into the departing helicopter for a scheduled five-minute flight on his return track and had seen its doors closing.

Mitchell said the pilot testified that he had not heard a taxi call from the departing pilot announcing his intention to take off, stating “the pilot of the returning helicopter recalled that their assessment was that the departing helicopter would pass behind them."

Commenting on this year's commissioning of German experts to help recreate the collision, Mitchell told ABC that a 3D animation would give investigators a clearer picture of what went wrong 12 months ago.

According to the ABC, Mitchell advised the ATSB has also examined the workload and pressures on the chief pilot prior to the crash noting "we know that this chief pilot was not only chief of operations but also head of operations, chief of air worthiness, maintenance control, as well as a line pilot and also other admin responsibilities, so we know that that is a busy workload.”

The ATSB's final report on the crash is expected to be delivered mid-2024

Sea World Helicopters will not conduct joy flights on the anniversary as a sign of respect to victims of the accident.

Images: A promotional picture Sea World Helicopters (top)