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The ATSB is investigating the crash of a Super Puma helicopter in southern NSW on Friday morning.
Police responded to reports of the accident, at One Tree near Hay, after a distress beacon was activated. One person has been confirmed killed in the crash.
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The helicopter (similar aircraft pictured) was located after a search by an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Challenger rescue jet, as well as a Victorian Air Ambulance helicopter and a local skydiving aircraft, the ABC has reported.
“A passenger – a man believed to be aged in his 40s – was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, he died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“The pilot – a 39-year-old man – was treated for minor injuries before being taken to Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.
“A crime scene has been established by officers attached to Murrumbidgee Police District and an investigation into the cause of the crash will be undertaken by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).”
According to the ATSB, the helicopter – reportedly US-registered – was conducting a ferry flight from Broken Hill to Albury when it collided with terrain.
“The ATSB is deploying a team of transport safety investigators with expertise in helicopter maintenance and engineering, flying operations, and data recovery and analysis to the accident site, where they are expected to arrive on Saturday,” the bureau said in a statement.
“Once on site over coming days they will examine and map the site and wreckage, recover recording devices, and retrieve any components deemed necessary for further examination in the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.
“Other investigation activities will include interviewing any witnesses and involved parties, reviewing pilot and maintenance records, operator procedures, and weather and environmental conditions, and retrieving flight data information.”
The ATSB has also called for anyone with footage of the accident or of the aircraft in flight to contact investigators via an online form.
“The ATSB will release a preliminary report detailing factual information established in the investigation’s evidence-gathering phase in about two months. A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation and will detail analysis and findings,” it said.
“However, if at any time during the investigation we discover a critical safety issue, we will work closely with the relevant stakeholders so action can be taken to address that issue.”
