MRH-90 crash Australia
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 75
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 0
Received 66 Likes
on
53 Posts
Flight path changed before army chopper tragedy 30 Apr 2024
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/austr...dy/ar-AA1nUlH7
"...Daniel Nugent, the father of pilot Lieutenant Nugent, said a briefing given by senior army leadership after the crash revealed the flight path plan was adjusted because of changing weather conditions. Mr Nugent said another defence force member who had witnessed the incident told him he had "never seen an aircraft do that".
Lieutenant Nugent's partner Chadine Whyte said he had noted the weather conditions were "rainy and not ideal", in a conversation before the crash.
The hearing was told Lieutenant Nugent had been involved in a previous incident just months earlier at Jervis Bay, after a MRH-90 suffered engine failure in March 2023, causing it to ditch into the sea. He was leading the formation and witnessed the crash. The crew had been praised for their handling of the emergency and no one was killed...."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/austr...dy/ar-AA1nUlH7
"...Daniel Nugent, the father of pilot Lieutenant Nugent, said a briefing given by senior army leadership after the crash revealed the flight path plan was adjusted because of changing weather conditions. Mr Nugent said another defence force member who had witnessed the incident told him he had "never seen an aircraft do that".
Lieutenant Nugent's partner Chadine Whyte said he had noted the weather conditions were "rainy and not ideal", in a conversation before the crash.
The hearing was told Lieutenant Nugent had been involved in a previous incident just months earlier at Jervis Bay, after a MRH-90 suffered engine failure in March 2023, causing it to ditch into the sea. He was leading the formation and witnessed the crash. The crew had been praised for their handling of the emergency and no one was killed...."
The following users liked this post:
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 75
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 0
Received 66 Likes
on
53 Posts
Families infuriated as ADF moves to gut inquiry into deadly crash 17 Jun 2024
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/austr...sh/ar-BB1olGBM
"The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is seeking to gut an independent inquiry's ability to investigate the cause of a fatal Taipan helicopter crash that killed four Army airmen last year. In an extraordinary move that has infuriated the families of the victims, Defence wants the Inspector-General of the ADF (IGADF) inquiry into the July 28 to avoid probing a lengthy "shopping list" of topics until it has completed its own under-powered inquiry....
...The helicopter had been flying in close formation with three other Taipans in low light, poor weather and in a left-hand turn when it smashed into the ocean about 10.30pm. Suspicion has fallen on pilot disorientation, possibly caused by compelling but inaccurate or ambiguous information in the helmet-mounted night vision equipment.
The Commonwealth's submission to the IGADF says the inquiry should "not seek to obtain or adduce evidence relating to any or all" of the declared topics - including the helmet display - before the Defence Flight Safety Bureau (DFSB) completes its own reports into the July 28 crash and the ditching of a Taipan into Jervis Bay four months before....
...The DFSB signed off on the use of the TopOwl helmet-mounted sight display, conducting its own tests, after the Army Aviation and Test Evaluation Section said the equipment posed a "substantial risk of multiple deaths" due to display of "ambiguous aircraft attitude"...."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/austr...sh/ar-BB1olGBM
"The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is seeking to gut an independent inquiry's ability to investigate the cause of a fatal Taipan helicopter crash that killed four Army airmen last year. In an extraordinary move that has infuriated the families of the victims, Defence wants the Inspector-General of the ADF (IGADF) inquiry into the July 28 to avoid probing a lengthy "shopping list" of topics until it has completed its own under-powered inquiry....
...The helicopter had been flying in close formation with three other Taipans in low light, poor weather and in a left-hand turn when it smashed into the ocean about 10.30pm. Suspicion has fallen on pilot disorientation, possibly caused by compelling but inaccurate or ambiguous information in the helmet-mounted night vision equipment.
The Commonwealth's submission to the IGADF says the inquiry should "not seek to obtain or adduce evidence relating to any or all" of the declared topics - including the helmet display - before the Defence Flight Safety Bureau (DFSB) completes its own reports into the July 28 crash and the ditching of a Taipan into Jervis Bay four months before....
...The DFSB signed off on the use of the TopOwl helmet-mounted sight display, conducting its own tests, after the Army Aviation and Test Evaluation Section said the equipment posed a "substantial risk of multiple deaths" due to display of "ambiguous aircraft attitude"...."
Another extract from the end of that article is also worth posting here:
"David Naggs, the father of Corporal Alex Naggs,... also questioned why the DFSB should be effectively made "sole arbiter" in the establishment of the facts when it had played a role in evaluating the safety of the helmet-mounted sight display."
I can understand his sentiment.
"David Naggs, the father of Corporal Alex Naggs,... also questioned why the DFSB should be effectively made "sole arbiter" in the establishment of the facts when it had played a role in evaluating the safety of the helmet-mounted sight display."
I can understand his sentiment.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 75
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 0
Received 66 Likes
on
53 Posts
Attempt to delay helicopter crash inquiry quashed 18 Jun 2024
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/austr...ed/ar-BB1opIbD
"An attempt by the Australian Defence Force to delay an inquiry into a fatal army helicopter crash has been quashed....
...Colonel Jens Streit, counsel assisting Justice Margaret McMurdo, submitted the Commonwealth's application was a delay tactic and the inquiry was simply trying to find out about the tragic crash....
...Family members of the crash victims made submissions opposing the Commonwealth application. "Despite being six months into the inquiry, the secrecy that still surrounds the cause of the accident is of considerable impact to me and only creates distrust about the ADF and a serious concern that the inquiry is not focused on that primary fact," Cpt Lyon's wife Caitland said in a statement....
...In order to maintain public confidence in the inquiry and the ADF, it should continue, Ms McMurdo said. Ms McMurdo rejected the application and asked for the report be handed down as soon as possible, confirming the inquiry would go ahead regardless."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/austr...ed/ar-BB1opIbD
"An attempt by the Australian Defence Force to delay an inquiry into a fatal army helicopter crash has been quashed....
...Colonel Jens Streit, counsel assisting Justice Margaret McMurdo, submitted the Commonwealth's application was a delay tactic and the inquiry was simply trying to find out about the tragic crash....
...Family members of the crash victims made submissions opposing the Commonwealth application. "Despite being six months into the inquiry, the secrecy that still surrounds the cause of the accident is of considerable impact to me and only creates distrust about the ADF and a serious concern that the inquiry is not focused on that primary fact," Cpt Lyon's wife Caitland said in a statement....
...In order to maintain public confidence in the inquiry and the ADF, it should continue, Ms McMurdo said. Ms McMurdo rejected the application and asked for the report be handed down as soon as possible, confirming the inquiry would go ahead regardless."
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 75
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 0
Received 66 Likes
on
53 Posts
Fatigue concern before army chopper crash, inquiry told 19 Jun 2024
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/austr...ld/ar-BB1ouHGL
"...A former MRH-90 pilot, referred to by the pseudonym D20, told an inquiry into the crash they were working 12 to 18 hours a day on weekdays and four to six hours on weekends in the months before the incident....
...Standard hours were 7.30am to 4pm, however, for the aviation regiment it varied to accommodate for night flying, D20 explained....
...D20 recalled they and other pilots were experiencing fatigue during the training week. They made the decision to pair Capt Lyon, Lt Nugent, WO2 Laycock and Corp Naggs on the fatal flight due to their different skill sets. D20 raised concerns about Capt Lyon and Lt Nugent being paired together based on their piloting experience levels, however, the decision was endorsed by fellow senior officers.... The inquiry continues on Thursday."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/austr...ld/ar-BB1ouHGL
"...A former MRH-90 pilot, referred to by the pseudonym D20, told an inquiry into the crash they were working 12 to 18 hours a day on weekdays and four to six hours on weekends in the months before the incident....
...Standard hours were 7.30am to 4pm, however, for the aviation regiment it varied to accommodate for night flying, D20 explained....
...D20 recalled they and other pilots were experiencing fatigue during the training week. They made the decision to pair Capt Lyon, Lt Nugent, WO2 Laycock and Corp Naggs on the fatal flight due to their different skill sets. D20 raised concerns about Capt Lyon and Lt Nugent being paired together based on their piloting experience levels, however, the decision was endorsed by fellow senior officers.... The inquiry continues on Thursday."
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 75
Posts: 2,639
Likes: 0
Received 66 Likes
on
53 Posts
Best read at source. Inquiry resumes tomorrow Friday:
Engine failure risk warning before fatal chopper crash (msn.com)
Engine failure risk warning before fatal chopper crash (msn.com)
