Deceased
Edward Geldard
Demographics
46y, male
Date of death
2007-12-29
Finding date
2008
Cause of death
Injuries sustained in a helicopter accident
AI-generated summary
Edward Geldard, an experienced helicopter pilot with 776 flying hours, died in a Robinson R44 helicopter accident at Pier 35, Melbourne on 29 December 2007. During departure in southerly wind conditions (15-30 knots), the helicopter experienced low main rotor RPM, lost controlled flight, and crashed into water. The coroner found that environmental factors combined with pilot handling technique caused the low RPM event. Critical safety issues included: the helipad windsock location provided inaccurate wind readings in southerly conditions, failing to meet ICAO standards; the helipad design created turbulence from the boat storage shed; and pilots lacked clear guidance on safe departure procedures for these unique conditions. The accident highlights the importance of helipad design conforming to international standards, accurate wind indication systems, and pilots having pertinent information about site-specific hazards before operations.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
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