You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Sunday 29 January 1989 |
| Time: | 11:20 |
| Type: |  Hiller UH-12E |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | VH-HMT |
| MSN: | HA3066 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Cooroorah Station, QLD -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Barrain Station, QLD |
| Cooroorah Station, QLD | |
| Investigating agency: | BASI |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
At the conclusion of a mustering operation, the pilot flew to a neighboring property. He made an approach to a line of the houses at the property but no-one came out to meet the helicopter. He then decided to hover-taxi to a shed some 90 metres away and land. Whilst taxiing the helicopter at about 10 knots, the pilot suddenly noticed a three phase power line immediately in front of him, angled at about 30 feet to his track. He attempted to avoid a collision by initiating a back-up but the main rotor mast and tail rotor became entangled in the three wires. The bubble was smashed by a flailing wire as the helicopter descended out of control. The ensuing landing was heavy, resulting in a collapsed left skid gear. The helicopter remained substantially upright. The pilot later said that the power poles supporting the span were obscured by trees.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1989/aair/aair198903746/
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/28468/aair198903746.pdf
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 4 March 1981 | ZK-HKV | Fieldair Holdings (Northern) Ltd | Dargaville, Northland |  |
unk | |
| 19 December 1983 | ZK-HKV | Fieldair Holdings (Northern) Ltd | Tirohia, Waikato | |
unk | |
| 15 June 2004 | VH-HMT | 0 | 11km W of Innisfail, QLD | |
sub |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Dec-2018 13:36 | Pineapple | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation