Accidents
Night Winching Near-collision Prompts Reforms
A helicopter nearly hit cliff while winching paramedic during night-time search and rescue mission prompting regulations and additional NVG training.
Graphic depicting flight path of incident helicopter
A helicopter nearly hit cliff while winching paramedic during night-time search and rescue mission prompting regulations and additional NVG training. (Photo: Australian Transport Safety Bureau)

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) faulted technology, training, and procedures for a 2021 night helicopter winching operation during a search-and-rescue mission that went dangerously sideways. Fortunately, no injuries resulted when a Leonardo AW139 nearly hit a cliff while operating near Katoomba, New South Wales. 

As the helicopter was lowering a paramedic to an injured hiker, it began to bank and drift toward the nearby cliffs. In response, the pilot, aided only by night vision goggles (NVG) and the aircraft’s landing lights, inputted maximum upward nose pitch of 51 degrees and received an over-torque engine warning while executing a successful escape maneuver, during which the paramedic was grabbing onto the flight step. The helicopter then returned to Bankstown, where an aircraft inspection revealed no faults or damage.

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