- Date
- December 9, 2009, 12:25 local (12:25 UTC)
- Place
- Dorrigo, Australia, Australia
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- VH-MJOBell 206
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency
- Other
- Case key
- 75161
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Factual narrative
On December 9, 2009, at 1225 universal coordinated time a Bell 206 L-1, VH-MJO, operated by Commercial Helicopters Pty Ltd. collided with the terrain during takeoff near Dorrigo, Australia. The flight was for the purpose of performing an aerial survey. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured and a crew member was killed. The flight was departing at the time. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Australia. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Australia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) P.O. Box 967, civic Square Canberra A.C.T. 2608 Australia Tel: +612 6274 6054 Fax: +612 6274 6434
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- VH-MJO
- Reported as
- Bell 206 (L1)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45745
- Engine
- Allison 250 C20, 435 lbs thrust, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Non-U.S., commercial
- Operator
- Commercial Helicopters Pty Ltd
- Departed
- Dorrigo, Australia
- Destination
- Dorrigo, Australia
- Flight plan
- Unknown
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 13 KB in all.