Airprox Serious incident Fairchild SA227-DC Metro 23 VH-HVH, Friday 21 June 2013

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Date:	Friday 21 June 2013
Time:	17:09
Type:	Fairchild SA227-DC Metro 23
Owner/operator:	Hardy Aviation
Registration:	VH-HVH
MSN:	DC-886B
Year of manufacture:	1995
Engine model:	Garrett Turbineo TPE331-12UHR
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 21
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	None
Category:	Serious incident
Location:	near Bathurst Island Airport, Bathurst Island, NT - Australia
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Bathurst Island Airport, NT (BRT/YBTI)
Destination airport:	Darwin Airport, NT (DRW/YPDN)
Investigating agency:	ATSB
Confidence Rating:	Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities

Narrative:
A Fairchild SA227 aircraft (HVH), was being operated on a scheduled passenger flight from Bathurst Island to Darwin, Northern Territory. The pilot of an Aerospatiale AS.350 helicopter (JRJ), was taxiing at Barra Base, near the Port Hurd aeroplane landing area (ALA) and planned to overfly the Bathurst Island aerodrome at 2,500 ft, along the coast to Cape Gambier and then to Darwin. HVH was on downwind, climbing through 2,000 ft when the crew saw JRJ about 50-100 ft above and 400 m to the right. The first officer initiated a descent and JRJ passed overhead. The crew of each aircraft had not heard the other on the CTAF.

Accident investigation: