What happened
During operations at Caloundle Airport, a student pilot operating a helicopter (LTO) joined the 1,000 ft circuit. Prior to the incident, the pilot of LTO had established contact with the pilot of EXR via the CTAF to ensure separation, as the helicopter was aware the faster aircraft would be joining the circuit. Despite these radio transmissions, the crew of EXR did not hear the calls made by the helicopter.
At the time of the incident, the rear seat pilot of EXR was performing a go-around. The pilot of EXR reported that they did not hear the radio broadcasts from LTO and noted an expectation that helicopters would typically remain clear of circuit traffic. While the student pilot of LTO heard the EXR crew make a base call, they misinterpreted this as confirmation that the helicopter had been visually identified, leading them to believe separation was established.
As the crew of EXR approached the runway, they focused on another aircraft, Aircraft 3, which they had identified on the upwind leg. This focus prevented them from noticing the helicopter positioned ahead of them. Because of the nose-high attitude of EXR during the landing maneuver, the hovering helicopter was not seen until immediately before the ground collision occurred.
The investigation
Investigators examined the radio communications and equipment of both aircraft. Testing of the radio transmission and receiving functions for EXR, as well as the Avdata equipment at Caloundra Airport, revealed no faults. The student pilot of LTO had made six recorded broadcasts, and the pilot confirmed they could receive transmissions, proving the helicopter's radio was fully functional.
Findings
- The pilots of EXR failed to assimilate the radio calls made by the helicopter pilot.
- A primary factor was the expectation held by the EXR crew that helicopters would generally stay clear of the active circuit traffic.
- The crew of EXR was distracted by the position of Aircraft 3, which hindered their ability to visually identify the helicopter on the runway.
- The aircraft's nose-high attitude during the landing phase obscured the view of the hovering helicopter until the moment of impact.