Death crash ‘pilot error’

Coroner says chopper lacked vital gear

A CORONER has ruled out mechanical failure as the cause of a fatal helicopter crash in waters off Cape Tribulation.

Mareeba cane farmer Brad Maisel, 50, and his friend Dan Gray had been on a day fishing trip with two men in another helicopter on April 7, 2016.

They were on the return leg of their trip to Bonnie Doon when the Robinson R22, which was being flown by Mr Maisel, crashed into the sea off Noah Beach, six kilometres south of Cape Tribulation.

Mr Gray miraculously survived, but Mr Maisel’s body has never been found.

Coroner Nerida Wilson, in non-inquest findings, determined that the cause of the crash was “as a result of inadvertent pilot error”. Mr Maisel had between 140 and 250 hours flying time and was considered to be a ‘low time’ pilot.

Both helicopters had refuelled at Cooktown about 6.30pm before taking off about 10 minutes later.

The report revealed that the helicopter almost crashed into the water just north of Cape Tribulation before Mr Maisel corrected and kept flying.

Ms Wilson said the conditions were described as “dark and moonless with intermittent showers and strong gusting winds” and Mr Maisel had switched off all internal lighting including instrument lights to reduce reflection off the windscreen.

“Mr G then described seeing the water approaching so quickly that he didn’t have any chance to shout before he heard a loud bang and the helicopter hit the water,” Ms Wilson said.

“Mr G told investigators that he woke up underwater in his seat. He removed his seatbelt and tried to look around but he could not see anything so he swam to the surface.”

The findings revealed that both helicopters lacked equipment such as an attitude indicator or a heading indicator required for flight at night under Australian regulations.

“Neither pilot was qualified to fly at night or in low visibility conditions that would require instrument flying. The pilots did not hold a night visual flight rules rating, nor instrument rating, and neither helicopter was equipped for flight at night in visual meteorological conditions,” Ms Wilson said.