A faulty radio antenna played a significant role in a fatal helicopter collision that occurred at an Australian theme park and resort. The tragic incident, which took place in January 2023 near Sea World on the Gold Coast, resulted in the deaths of four people and left several others seriously injured. Among the victims were two British tourists, a couple from Neston, Cheshire, who had been on holiday to visit relatives after being separated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau (ATSB) launched an investigation into the incident and discovered that the failure of a crucial radio antenna contributed to the mid-air collision. Just moments before the accident, one of the pilots failed to hear a vital radio call from the other helicopter, which was approaching to land. The report revealed that a series of operational changes by Sea World over time had eroded the safety measures designed to manage traffic separation between helicopters.
In the lead-up to the collision, Sea World had been expanding its leisure flight offerings. This included adding a second helipad and introducing larger helicopters. While these changes were intended to improve the experience, they inadvertently created new risks. One of the key risks was the conflict point that emerged between helicopters taking off and landing. This was further complicated by the fact that the aircraft preparing for takeoff had a faulty antenna, preventing the pilot from receiving a critical taxiing call from the landing helicopter.
The two helicopters collided just 20 seconds after one had taken off, and the other was in the process of landing. The crash occurred when the departing helicopter, which was carrying several passengers, struck the inbound helicopter, which had just completed a five-minute scenic flight. Tragically, all the fatalities occurred in the helicopter that had been taking off. The other helicopter was able to make an emergency landing, although passengers aboard sustained various injuries.
The ATSB report revealed that, as the helicopter preparing to take off was loading passengers, a ground crew member had advised the pilot that the airspace was clear. However, by the time the helicopter took off, this information was no longer accurate. The arriving helicopter pilot had seen the other helicopter on the ground but did not consider it to be a threat. He expected to be notified of any changes via a taxiing radio call, which, due to the faulty antenna, never occurred.
Without this critical taxiing call, the pilot of the inbound helicopter, who was focused on the landing site, failed to reassess the risk posed by the departing helicopter. As a result, the collision took place, leading to the tragic fatalities. Among the victims were 36-year-old Sydney resident Vanessa Tadros and 40-year-old Sea World Helicopters pilot Ashley Jenkinson, originally from Birmingham.
The ATSB report highlighted several key findings, emphasizing the need for thorough risk management when implementing changes to aviation operations. The investigation concluded that while Sea World’s changes were intended to improve safety and customer experience, they inadvertently introduced new risks that had not been adequately addressed. The ATSB stressed that even seemingly minor changes in aviation operations can have unintended consequences and that a defined safety process must be followed to ensure overall safety is not compromised.
The incident served as a stark reminder of the importance of effective communication, proper maintenance of aircraft systems, and the critical need for ongoing safety evaluations when making operational changes in aviation. The families of the victims, particularly the Hughes couple, remembered their loved ones as adventurous individuals with a passion for life, underscoring the emotional toll such tragedies have on those left behind.
