A Taipan military helicopter that crashed off the coast of Queensland, killing 4 defence personnel, had gained altitude earlier than plunging nostril first into the water, an unbiased inquiry has heard.
The MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crashed close to Lindeman Island close to the Whitsundays throughout an evening coaching train on July 28 final yr, killing all 4 troopers on-board.
They have been Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs.
The Inspector-Common of the Australian Defence Pressure (ADF) has appointed former decide Margaret McMurdo to steer the unbiased inquiry into the lethal coaching accident.
On Tuesday, the primary day of the general public listening to into the deadly crash started with a minute’s silence for every of the 4 officers killed.
Household of the 4 officers have been delivered to tears through the touching begin to proceedings.
Choose McMurdo can be supported by Air Vice-Marshal Joe Iervasi and Colonel Jens Streit within the public listening to that started within the Brisbane Conference Centre on Tuesday.
The MRH-90 Taipan helicopter was getting used for nocturnal coaching as part of Train Talisman Sabre earlier than it crashed.
The inquiry heard the defence coaching operation had consisted of 4 MRH-90s flying in formation to Lindeman Island as a part of an organised train to gather ADF personnel.
Colonel Streit mentioned the 4 helicopters had modified flight plan to keep away from climate circumstances on the evening of the accident.
He mentioned the Taipan that crashed, referred to with its name signal of Bushman 83, had been noticed by the helicopter flying straight behind it in formation to extend its climb earlier than instantly descending “quickly in direction of the water”.
The inquiry heard the fourth helicopter which noticed this unfold, Bushman 84, had radioed to Bushman 83 to “pull up, pull up, pull up” earlier than these on board witnessed Bushman 83 hit the water at excessive pace.
A whole lot of ADF and emergency service personnel spent three months looking out the waters across the Whitsunday Coast for the helicopter.
In a press release launched on November 9 final yr, the ADF mentioned “all sensible wreckage and remnants” from the helicopter had been recovered.
The MRH-90 Taipans, which have been on account of be withdrawn by the Albanese authorities in December 2024, have been grounded final September after the surprising crash.
Air Vice-Marshall Iervasi mentioned the job will be “hazardous at occasions”, revealing he’s misplaced pals throughout defence operations.
“I’ve had a number of shut calls myself the place a major incident was prevented by a matter of seconds or toes,’’ he mentioned.
“I’ve witnessed the impacts these deaths have had on pals, household and colleagues.
“When one thing occurs, it’s incumbent on these concerned to talk up.’’
Lieutenant Colonel Tony Cameron, Commanding Officer and chief teacher of the Military College of Aviation, informed the listening to aviation officers coaching on the MRH-90 can take six to 9 months on the facility primarily based in Oakey, Queensland.
Lieutenant Colonel Cameron informed the inquiry he had identified Captain Lyon, Warrant Officer Laycock and Lieutenant Nugent in some capability throughout his function. He didn’t know Corporal Naggs.
However it was his private reference to Warrant Officer Laycock, who he’d flown with in the identical unit flying Black Hawks for about 9 years, that led him to think about the late officer as among the finest crewmen he’s ever encountered.
“He was certainly one of, if not essentially the most competent, skilled and relied upon senior air crewmen we had,” Lieutenant Colonel Cameron.
Lieutenant Colonel Cameron mentioned officers undergo 4 “phases” of coaching earlier than they graduate the MRH-90 coaching.
The inquiry heard Defence Aviation Security Authority (DASA) had launched new laws in February 2023 surrounding evening imaginative and prescient units, illumination capabilities and climate contingency plans.
“We have been required to jot down new guidelines to adjust to the aviation laws,” Lieutenant Colonel Cameron mentioned.
“Then there have been extra restrictive guidelines till the results of the accident investigation got here out.
“These guidelines are being reviewed and there’s an exterior inquiry into (these).”
Lieutenant Colonel Cameron confirmed the particular flying instruction issued by DASA have been to offer additional restriction in sure illumination capabilities and climate.
He added that “proactive measures” have been issued in October after the July crash.
When questioned by Air Vice-Marshall Iervasi concerning the obvious “hole of eight months earlier than something modified” from when DASA ordered to the brand new laws and these adjustments have been made, Lieutenant Colonel Cameron mentioned the adjustments have been a “consequence of the DASA laws”.
When requested concerning the variations between the MRR-90s and the beforehand deployed Black Hawk helicopters, Lieutenant Colonel Cameron mentioned there have been many “completely different camps” of opinion about each plane inside military aviation.
“I might generalise however right here have been among the older folks did have an affinity with the Black Hawk whereas among the new technology who did know the Black Hawk, they favoured the MRH-90,” he mentioned.
“They each had their professionals and cons however so far as a tradition whether or not one platform is most popular by the opposite, there was blended opinions all through the group.
“I had extra expertise on the previous Black Hawk, it was primarily an analog helicopter so I discovered that simpler to fly than the MRH-90, however I didn’t have as a lot expertise on the MRH-90.
“So far as a battlefield helicopter, the Black Hawk had some benefit and was simpler to fly.”
Nonetheless, Lieutenant Colonel Cameron mentioned there had been a “lot of lack of confidence within the security of the plane” amongst these within the “MRH-90 group”.
“It had its points with provide chain upkeep … which had its results of with the ability to fly them at sure occasions,” he mentioned.
“Nonetheless … we might not go flying except we have been certain and managing the chance throughout the whole lot we do.
“So far as confidence within the plane of being a protected flying platform, I’m not conscious of anybody having no confidence in that.”
Captain Andrew Balaam of the 5 Aviation Regiment additionally gave proof on Tuesday, explaining his function as a professional flight teacher for the regiment.
The inquiry heard Captain Balaam was one of many two first officers of the Australian Military to learn to fly the MRH-90 in France in 2009.
Captain Balaam mentioned pilots have been mandated to do annual coaching for emergency situations, which normally occurred each six months relying on the kind of coaching module required.
“In all of the situations we did we all the time used emergency situations as a result of they have been the worst case situations and the simulators allowed us to do this security,” he mentioned.
“You needed to do a flying expertise evaluation yearly. Then along with that you simply needed to do an annual simulated emergency coaching.”
When requested about why emergency situations have been vital coaching instruments, Captain Balaam mentioned human error should all the time be accounted for given a “human isn’t designed to fly”.
He defined that he additionally hadn’t skilled “conceited captains” throughout his time within the regiment.
“I feel the times of these conceited captains are gone,” Captain Balaam mentioned.
“It’s not one thing I’ve encountered in that regiment. I used to be not made conscious or I didn’t see something that may not inform me in any other case.”
The inquiry will resume in Brisbane at a later date but to be decided.
