Radio fault led to deadly Sea World helicopter crash

That allowed it to receive calls but not deliver them.

Without the radio calls, neither pilot had information available to target their search for the other helicopter.

The report found limitations in visibility from both helicopters, the failed radio transmissions, and competing priorities when looking at boats and other aircraft led to the midair crash.

The report also found Sea World Helicopters’ system of radio calls, hand signals and conspicuity devices, intended to warn of the presence of another helicopter, was flawed.

This meant both of the pilots formed an incorrect understanding about the location of the other helicopter.

The ATSB also found evidence that passengers on both of the helicopters were incorrectly restrained but couldn’t determine the level of contribution to their injuries.

Investigators said the helicopters were changed a week before the crash while the helipads had been swapped a year before, which contributed to a loss of safety processes during the swap.

The helipad location change also increased the risk of a collision between helicopters, it said.

The new aircraft lacked company radio communications with no mandate to make proactive calls, no live traffic displays, and the pilots were not familiar with the systems, the report found.

Pilot Ashley Jenkinson, 40, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, 36, died in the crash.

Loading

Tadros’ son Nicholas, 10, underwent serious surgeries following the crash while Victorian mum Winnie de Silva, 33, and her nine-year-old son Leon were hospitalised.

The pilot of the second chopper, Michael James, managed to land his aircraft safely, but he and two of his passengers were injured by flying glass when its windshield shattered.

Shine Lawyers, who represent several people injured in the crash and those traumatised by what they witnessed, were keenly awaiting the report to inform civil proceedings.

Loading

Claims have been made against Sea World Helicopters of up to $925,000 per person and the release of the report will inform any further action, litigation specialist Roger Singh said.

“We will examine the findings of this report with a view to identifying other potential defendants and further damages which may be sought,” he said.

“This was such a profoundly unnecessary loss of life which must be prosecuted fully to ensure it never happens again.”