Schofield, Wayne Patrick; Redfern, Haydn Jonathan
Deceased
Haydn Jonathan Lee Redfern; Wayne Patrick Schofield
Demographics
0y, unknown
Date of death
2011-09-08
Finding date
2017-12-08
Cause of death
Multiple injuries due to helicopter crash resulting from loss of aircraft control during turbulent wind conditions in a pinnacle landing approach
AI-generated summary
A helicopter crash at Double Mountain South, Shoalwater Bay, resulted in two fatalities. The pilot, Haydn Redfern, with limited experience on this aircraft type (32 hours of 957 total) and unfamiliarity with its reversed controls, was tasked to conduct pinnacle landing operations without adequate assessment. During a go-around maneuver in sudden turbulent wind conditions, he made an incorrect control input due to his unfamiliarity with the aircraft, leading to loss of control. The narrow landing site with insufficient clearing required cautious approach, extending exposure to adverse weather. While a hydraulic pump drive belt failure was investigated as a possible cause, the coroner found no mechanical failure had occurred. Key preventable factors included inadequate pilot experience assessment for the task, ad hoc crew rostering procedures, and insufficient landing site clearing. The coroner emphasized the importance of documented experience, current competency assessment, and timely implementation of manufacturer safety bulletins.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- Pilot inexperience with pinnacle/high-altitude landing sites
- Insufficient familiarity with aircraft type (only 32 hours on Eurocopter of 957 total hours)
- Unfamiliarity with reversed control inputs on Eurocopter model
- Inadequate pre-flight assessment for task complexity
- Ad hoc and informal crew rostering and tasking procedures
- Narrow landing site footprint with insufficient clearing
- Absence of dedicated landing platform
- Sudden adverse wind gust from mountain peak topography
- Pilot's initial incorrect control input in response to turbulence
Coroner's recommendations
- Pilots who conduct pinnacle or high altitude landing site operations must ensure they have sufficient documented experience and have completed appropriate current assessment for such competency before being tasked to conduct such flying duties. Pinnacle site competency was identified as a degradable skill and greater awareness is needed amongst pilots and company operators regarding the specialised nature of such flying.
- Regulators need to consider whether manufacturer issued Safety Recommendations or CASA issued Airworthiness Bulletins should, in appropriate circumstances, require timely replacement of parts or components when improved parts are recommended. Running down non-conforming parts stock is not best practice. Consideration should be given to minimum compliance periods (e.g. within 90 days) for critical safety recommendations.
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