# NTSB WPR13WA157: Robinson R44, Bulli Tops, Australia, Australia, March 21, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: March 21, 2013
- Place: Bulli Tops, Australia, Australia
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Lead agency: Other
- Parties: Australian Transport Safety Bureau
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86482
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13WA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86482/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86482
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13WA157

## Sequence of events

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

- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On March 21, 2013, about 1207 local time, a Robinson Helicopter R44, VH-HWQ, collided with terrain near Bulli Tops, Australia. The pilot was operating the helicopter under the provisions of the Australian Civil Aviation Regulations. The pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries; the helicopter was destroyed. The personal cross-country flight departed Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia, en route to Bulli Tops, New South Wales, Australia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The primary wreckage was located at -34.3147 degrees south latitude and 150.9128 degrees east longitude. Preliminary information received from the government of Australia indicated that shortly after landing, the helicopter lifted off and turned to the right. The main rotor struck branches of a nearby tree, and the helicopter descended and then rolled over onto its right side. A fire started on the grass under the rotor mast and the cabin. The accident is under the jurisdiction of, and is being investigated by, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, reference 201302720. Further information can be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau 15 Mort Street, Braddon ACT 2612, Australia P.O. Box 967, Civic Square ACT 2608, Australia Phone +61 2 6230 4408 Fax +61 2 6274 6434 Web site www.atsb.gov.au This report is for information purposes only, and contains only information obtained for, or released by, the Government of Australia.

## Aircraft

- Registration: VH-HWQ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R44
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1445
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 205 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Bankstown
- Destination: Bulli Tops
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: Bulli Tops

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 9, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86482. 197 KB in all.

- Non Docket Statement (item 1, .PDF, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390289&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Non%20Docket%20Statement-Master.PDF

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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