Maisel, Bradford Zaiser – Non-inquest findings
Deceased
Bradford Zaiser Maisel
Demographics
50y, male
Date of death
2016-04-07
Finding date
2018-07-09
Cause of death
Fatal injuries sustained as a consequence of a helicopter colliding with the ocean
AI-generated summary
A 50-year-old private pilot died when his Robinson R22 helicopter collided with the ocean near Cape Tribulation, Queensland. Mr Maisel was qualified only for daylight visual flight rules (VFR) operations but departed Cooktown at 6:40 pm, after last light, for a 67-nautical-mile coastal flight in deteriorating visibility and darkness. The helicopter lacked required night-flying equipment (attitude indicator, heading indicator). Contributing factors included: poor flight planning and time management, unapproved esky modification attached to the left skid causing aerodynamic drag and weight/balance issues (estimated 35kg over maximum gross weight), non-carriage of life jackets, operational decisions based on incomplete information, and overdue pitot-static system calibration. The pilot inadvertently descended to water level and struck the ocean in powered flight. The passenger survived but the pilot was not recovered. This represents a preventable accident from inadequate decision-making regarding night flight operations by an unqualified, low-time pilot.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- Pilot not qualified for night flight operations
- Helicopter not equipped with required instruments for night flying (no attitude indicator or heading indicator)
- Departure at last light/after sunset for night flight
- Deteriorating visibility and darkness
- Poor flight planning and inadequate time management
- Unapproved modification (esky) causing aerodynamic drag
- Aircraft overweight and out of centre of gravity limits
- Incomplete operational information used for decision-making
- Overdue pitot-static system and altimeter calibration checks
- Non-carriage of life jackets
- Low pilot experience (140-250 hours flying time)
- Adverse weather conditions including strong gusting winds
Coroner's recommendations
- Day-VFR pilots must plan to arrive at destination at least 10 minutes before last light
- Day-VFR pilots must have a realistic 'plan B' when intended flight cannot be completed in daylight
- Pilots should consider degree to which passengers are exposed to risk in flight planning decisions
- Pilots should be mindful of risk messages in pilot operating handbooks regarding loss of visibility and night flight in bad weather
- Pilots must recognize that some terrain and night conditions are darker than others, making inadvertent IMC harder to avoid at night
Full text
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