EUROCOPTER EC120
Hardy Reef, Queensland, March 21, 2018
Event Information
| Date | March 21, 2018 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| Location | Hardy Reef, Queensland |
| Country | AS |
| Highest Injury | FATL |
| NTSB Number | WPR18WA110 |
| Event ID | 20180322X32109 |
Aircraft
| Make | EUROCOPTER |
| Model | EC120 |
| Registration # | VH-WII |
| Operator | Whitsunday Air Services |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | UNK |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | - |
| Weather | - |
Injuries
| Fatal | 2 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 2 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 4 |
Full Narrative
On March 21, 2018, about 1500 local time, a Eurocopter (Airbus Helicopters) EC120B helicopter, VH-WII, sustained substantial damage when it impacted water during an aborted landing attempt on a floating helicopter landing site (HLS) located between Hardy Reef and Hook Reef, in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Queensland, Australia. The helicopter was operated by Whitsunday Air Services Pty Ltd, and had departed Hamilton Island Airport, Queensland, on a charter flight to the HLS. The commercial pilot was uninjured, two passengers received minor injuries, and two passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Australia. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Australia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
P.O. Box 967, Civic Square
Canberra A.C.T. 2608
Australia
Tel: +612 6274 6054
Fax: +612 6274 6434
www.atsb.gov.au
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.