Category: Helicopters

In a statement, the transport safety watchdog said its investigators were expected to complete their evidence collection phase on Wednesday as part of their probe into the crash of Nautilus Aviation helicopter VH-ERH.

Nautilus said the employee had “gained unauthorised access” to the helicopter hangar and “misappropriated” one of the Robinson R44 aircraft, hours after a party had been held among staff to celebrate his promotion.

Nautilus Aviation, which owned the helicopter that hit the roof of the DoubleTree hotel on the Cairns Esplanade at around 1:50am, said the flight was “unauthorised” and that it is working with authorities including Queensland Police and the ATSB to inv…

Hundreds were evacuated from the Double Tree Hotel on the Cairns Esplanade after the Robinson R44 helicopter collided with the roof at around 1:50am, causing a fire. Two people were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.