What happened
On 2 January 2023, two EC130 B4 helicopters were conducting concurrent five-minute scenic flights from the Sea World grounds on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The aircraft involved, VH-XKQ and VH-XH9, were operating from two different helipads located approximately 220 meters apart. During the flights, the two aircraft converged at a specific point in space, leading to a midair collision.
Following the impact, VH-XKQ sustained severe damage and broke apart, subsequently striking the terrain. The collision resulted in 4 fatalities and 3 serious injuries among the seven people on board that aircraft, which was destroyed. The second aircraft, VH-XXH9, suffered substantial damage but the pilot was able to perform a controlled landing. On board VH-XH9, there were 3 serious injuries and 3 minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the operational changes implemented by Sea World Helicopters, including the reopening of a park pad in March 2022 and the introduction of the two EC130 B4 helicopters for simultaneous operations. Investigators found that the new flight patterns created a frequent conflict point where aircraft were required to pass through the same airspace.
Technical failures were also identified, including a radio system on VH-XKQ with defects that limited transmission range, which likely prevented a taxi call from being heard. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the effectiveness of the operator's safety management systems and the accuracy of passenger restraint procedures.