Defence releases report into deadly 2023 Taipan helicopter crash
Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph 'Phillip' Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs died when their helicopter went down near the Whitsunday Islands, off Queensland 's coast, on July 28, 2023, while on night training exercise Talisman Sabre.
The newly released Aviation Safety Investigation Report confirms the primary cause of the crash was 'an unrecognised loss of spatial orientation'.
'This refers to a situation where a pilot is unaware of their actual orientation in relation to the earth's surface and the surrounding environment,' the Defence Aviation Authority said in a statement.
The report aims to prevent similar tragedies in future.
'This was one of the most complex aviation safety investigations we've ever done,' the authority confirmed.
The report lists 196 findings and makes 46 recommendations to improve safety.
Defence said it is already working on every recommendation.
The authority confirmed the safety of its aviation teams and affected families remains a top priority.
The findings have been handed over to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, Comcare, and are also being sent to the Queensland Coroner.
Following the incident, the MRH-90 helicopter fleet was permanently grounded and replaced with US-made Black Hawks.
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