What happened
On 7 December 2023, a private flight departed Bloodwood Station in the Northern Territory, bound for Gorrie Station. The flight took place during a dark night, following a moonset earlier that afternoon. While the pilot had previously operated the helicopter under clear, moonless conditions, the aircraft was not equipped for night operations, specifically lacking an artificial horizon, and the pilot's qualifications were limited to day VFR.
At approximately 1945, relatives at Wyworrie Station observed the helicopter passing their homestead. At this time, the pilot was heard via radio inquiring about hangar lights at Gorrie Station. However, the flight path was moving into an area characterized by heavy smoke from fires located between Wyworrie and Gorrie. The wreckage of the helicopter was subsequently located roughly 7.5 km south of the Wyworrie Station homestead and 6.1 km north-northeast of Gorrie Station, where it had struck the ground.
The investigation
The ATSB examined the wreckage and environmental conditions, noting that the ground scar and broken landing skids suggested the aircraft was in a nose-down, right-roll attitude upon impact. The distribution of debris, including the battery and a rotor blade section, indicated a high-energy collision involving significant airspeed and rotor speed.
Investigators determined that the presence of smoke likely reduced visibility to approximately 5 km, making ground lights at the destination and nearby stations invisible to the pilot. The investigation also considered that the pilot's night vision may not have been fully adapted to the darkness, though the use of prescription night driving glasses could not be confirmed.