# NTSB WPR11WA438: Robinson R44, Plutonic Aero., Australia, Australia, September 3, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: September 3, 2011, 03:30 local (03:30 UTC)
- Place: Plutonic Aero., Australia, Australia
- Coordinates: -24.866666, 119.050003 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=-24.8667&lon=119.0500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81725
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11WA438
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81725/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11WA438

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On September 3, 2011, at 0330 universal coordinated time, a Robinson R44, Australia registry VH-HCA, collided with terrain while maneuvering near Plutonic Aerodrome, Australia. The helicopter was operated by Wieland Helicopter Company under the pertinent civil regulations of Australia. The pilot was fatally injured and the passenger was seriously injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. 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 www.atsb.gov.au

## Aircraft

- Registration: VH-HCA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R44
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 10072
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: Wieland Helicopter Company
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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