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The Defence Flight Safety Bureau (DFSB) has finalised the Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the crash of an MRH-90 Taipan helicopter off the Whitsunday Islands in 2023, with Defence notifying friends and family of the deceased personnel.
Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph ‘Phillip’ Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs lost their lives during the accident, which occurred on 28 July 2023 during Exercise Talisman Sabre.
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The helicopter and its crew of four Australian Defence Force members were part of a night training activity during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 when it catastrophically crashed into waters near Lindeman Island.
The helicopter had reportedly been flying third in a four-helicopter formation and undertook a series of left-hand turns before starting an abrupt climb and then six seconds later, fatally plunging into the ocean at a speed over 130km/h, according to information previously published by Channel 9 media.
DFSB will provide a publicly releasable report upon completion of essential debriefings with Defence Aviation rotary-wing units, applicable Defence organisations and affected personnel. The report will be available in May.
Families of the crew, crews involved in the mission and personnel within Army Aviation have already been briefed on the findings of the report in the interests of shared awareness of causal and contributory factors of the accident.
“This aviation safety investigation was one of the most complex conducted by Defence in recent history. Aviation safety investigations do not seek to apportion blame or liability on individuals or organisations,” Defence said.
“The investigation analysed causal and contributory factors spanning individual/crew actions, local conditions, risk controls and organisational influences in order to make recommendations for safety improvement and prevent re-occurrence of similar events.
“The report identifies a number of findings and recommendations across the Defence Aviation Safety Program.
“This important debrief process is integral to ensure we protect the generative safety culture and the lives of the Defence aviation community.
“The accident, and the report’s findings and recommendations, serves as a catalyst for organisational reflection and to reaffirm our enduring aspiration for a generative safety culture. Defence is committed to a culture that maintains a persistent state of vigilance, is receptive to learning, is willing to respond to opportunities, and that maintains a collective commitment to protecting our people.”
DFSB is required to provide the report to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, Comcare and Queensland Coroner upon request.
