Preliminary Reports
Upset Preceded In-flight Break-up
Robinson R66, Oct. 26, 2023, Hawks Nest, New South Wales, Australia
Footage recovered from an onboard video camera showed that the helicopter underwent a series of intensifying attitude excursions as the pilot attempted to override the autopilot, eventually rolling past inverted to a 270-degree right bank before breaking up and crashing into Providence Bay near Hawks Nest. The solo 1,119-hour private pilot was the only casualty.
The personal flight departed from Cressnock Airport at 08:50 local time on a VFR flight to Wallis Island. The pilot coordinated transit through the Williamtown restricted airspace with air traffic control and was cleared to altitudes up to 2,000 feet upon reaching Anna Bay. The recovered footage showed that at 09:20 the helicopter was at about 900 feet with the autopilot engaged when it rolled slightly to the right, began to climb, and pitched down. During the next 20 seconds, the pilot made cyclic inputs as the helicopter rolled 25 degrees left and pitched up 10 degrees, rolled back and forth 10-15 degrees, then pitched down, rolled over, and broke apart.
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