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| Date: | Thursday 21 March 2013 |
| Time: | 12:40 |
| Type: |  Robinson R44 |
| Owner/operator: | Bankstown Helicopters |
| Registration: | VH-HWQ |
| MSN: | 1445 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2004 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-540-F1B5 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Panorama House, Bulli Tops, near Wollongong, NSW -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | Bankstown Airport, NSW (BWU/YSBK) |
| Panorama House, Bulli Tops, Wollongong, NSW | |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
At about 12:07 local time on 21 March 2013, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 helicopter (R44), registered VH-HWQ, was manoeuvring at a grassed area at Panorama House, Bulli Tops, near Wollongong, New South Wales. 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 pilot and the three passengers were fatally injured. They were later named in press reports as Gerald Haddad, Anthony Farmer, Donald Price and John Dunlop.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1379301/four-dead-after-helicopter-crash-at-bulli-tops/?cs=300
2. https://www.helis.com/database/cn/31741/
3. http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2013/03/robinson-r44-vh-hwq-could-fire-suit.html
4. http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/no-survivors-in-sydney-helicopter-crash-5376614
5. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/wollongong-helicopter-crash-kills-four-20130321-2ghdf.html
6. https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/510743-wollongong-fatal-crash-march-2013-a.html
7. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2013/aair/ao-2013-055.aspx
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 20-Mar-2013 23:18 | Geo | Added |
| 21-Mar-2013 16:13 | 3204Cedric | Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, ] |
| 22-Mar-2013 01:17 | Tayug | Updated [Registration, Cn, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, ] |
| 04-May-2014 20:20 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
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