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West Australian
22-05-2025
- West Australian
Brave to the end: army helicopter crash victims hailed
Four crew killed in an army helicopter crash were "brave and selfless to the end", the defence minister says, confirming the government accepts all 46 recommendations of a safety report. The Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash off the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland on July 28, 2023 was released on Wednesday. Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed when their helicopter crashed into the sea during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Defence Minister Richard Marles thanked the Defence Flight Safety Bureau for their "tireless" work on the report and said every recommendation would be accepted by the government. The investigation, one of four into the crash, was an important step in understanding what occurred and learning from it, the minister told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "I would observe that the four crew who tragically lost their lives I'm absolutely certain were brave and selfless to the end," he said. "Our thoughts are very much with their families, and we continue to work with them." Mr Marles said the defence force was deeply focused on safety, but what defence did was inherently dangerous and it was important to "train for real". The Talisman Sabre exercise alongside US and other nations' forces was Australia's most significant annual exercise for such training, he said. The crash report found the primary cause of the tragedy was "spatial disorientation", which happens when a pilot misperceives the position of their aircraft in relation to the surrounding environment. It concluded the pilots were likely experiencing a level of fatigue shown to "impede optimal performance" and increase susceptibility to spatial disorientation. "The estimated level of fatigue ... was considered sufficient to affect their actions and decisions in the event," the report said. It said the pilot likely didn't know the chopper was facing nose down and combined with a lack of recognition of the aircraft's increasing airspeed "resulted in a very high and unrecoverable rate of descent towards the water". The helicopter was conducting manoeuvres during rain showers and flying with its cabin doors closed, factors that restricted visibility. Defence All-hours Support Line (ASL) - 1800 628 036 Defence Member and Family Support - 1800 624 608 Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling - 1800 011 046 Lifeline - 13 11 14
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Perth Now
Brave to the end: army helicopter crash victims hailed
Four crew killed in an army helicopter crash were "brave and selfless to the end", the defence minister says, confirming the government accepts all 46 recommendations of a safety report. The Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash off the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland on July 28, 2023 was released on Wednesday. Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed when their helicopter crashed into the sea during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Defence Minister Richard Marles thanked the Defence Flight Safety Bureau for their "tireless" work on the report and said every recommendation would be accepted by the government. The investigation, one of four into the crash, was an important step in understanding what occurred and learning from it, the minister told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "I would observe that the four crew who tragically lost their lives I'm absolutely certain were brave and selfless to the end," he said. "Our thoughts are very much with their families, and we continue to work with them." Mr Marles said the defence force was deeply focused on safety, but what defence did was inherently dangerous and it was important to "train for real". The Talisman Sabre exercise alongside US and other nations' forces was Australia's most significant annual exercise for such training, he said. The crash report found the primary cause of the tragedy was "spatial disorientation", which happens when a pilot misperceives the position of their aircraft in relation to the surrounding environment. It concluded the pilots were likely experiencing a level of fatigue shown to "impede optimal performance" and increase susceptibility to spatial disorientation. "The estimated level of fatigue ... was considered sufficient to affect their actions and decisions in the event," the report said. It said the pilot likely didn't know the chopper was facing nose down and combined with a lack of recognition of the aircraft's increasing airspeed "resulted in a very high and unrecoverable rate of descent towards the water". The helicopter was conducting manoeuvres during rain showers and flying with its cabin doors closed, factors that restricted visibility. Defence All-hours Support Line (ASL) - 1800 628 036 Defence Member and Family Support - 1800 624 608 Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling - 1800 011 046 Lifeline - 13 11 14
West Australian
21-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Pilot's last manoeuvre may have prevented second helicopter tragedy
A military pilot's last-second evasive manoeuvre likely saved four lives during a catastrophic Army helicopter crash in the Whitsundays, a new investigation has revealed. Captain Danniel Lyon, who died alongside co-pilot Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Phillip Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs, managed to avoid a mid-air collision despite losing control of his MRH-90 Taipan, according to a 228-page report by the Defence Flight Safety Bureau (DFSB). The crash occurred on July 28, 2023, during Exercise Talisman Sabre, when the Taipan, call sign Bushman 83, plunged into the ocean off Hamilton Island while flying in formation with three other helicopters. The DFSB concluded the primary cause was spatial disorientation, with Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent becoming disoriented for 21 seconds before impact. However, in the final moments, Captain Lyon rolled the aircraft to the right, diverting it from a potential collision course with Bushman 82. 'During the two and a half seconds after the pushover, (flight data recorder) analysis indicates that the relative distance between the two aircraft decreased from approximately 100 metres to 50 metres,' the report said. 'In response to this increasing closure, it is likely (Captain Lyon) acted to avoid a potential mid-air collision with BSMN 82 by executing an avoidance turn to the right.' The report found Captain Lyon's action, taken while the aircraft was 'unrecoverable', likely prevented further loss of life. Cockpit audio captured a calm and focused exchange between Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent just seconds before the crash. 'It's getting dicey,' Captain Lyon said five seconds into a left-hand turn through rain showers. Moments later, he told Lieutenant Nugent, 'I'll just get around the corner for you mate … while we're dealing with the rain shower.' As they climbed, Captain Lyon asked: 'Have you still got em?' referring to the aircraft ahead. Lieutenant Nugent replied, 'Yeah, still get em mate.' Investigators believe this exchange marked the moment Captain Lyon lost visual contact with the Bushman 82 helicopter. He then began climbing through poor visibility and attempted quick manoeuvres to regain sight of the aircraft, rolling sharply right and then left. Neither Captain Lyon nor co-pilot Lieutenant Nugent appeared to notice a critical change in the aircraft's pitch, from nose-up to nose-down, as their helicopter climbed above the rest of the formation Unaware of the aircraft's downward attitude, Captain Lyon pitched down further, inadvertently pushing the aircraft into a fatal nose-down descent. In the final seconds before impact, Captain Lyon recognised that his plummeting helicopter, Bushman 83, was on a collision course with Bushman 82. Despite knowing his own chopper was unrecoverable, he took immediate evasive action, rolling sharply to the right in a final act that likely saved the lives of the four crew aboard Bushman 82. Bushman 83 hit the water at 10:36:25pm, travelling at 259km/h. The four men were killed instantly. The DFSB noted that fatigue likely contributed to the spatial disorientation. Both Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent had been sleeping in tents at Proserpine Airport in the days prior and waited inside the aircraft for two hours before takeoff. The investigation also assessed whether the TopOwl 5.10 helmet, criticised in test reports for its inverted pitch and roll displays when pilots turn their heads, contributed to the crash. The helmet was described by Army test pilots as a 'substantial risk of multiple deaths', but the DFSB found it was 'very unlikely' to have caused the disorientation in this instance. 'While both AATES and Standards Section test and evaluation reports agreed that there were deficiencies relating to attitude presentation, the two agencies disagreed on the severity of the hazard,' the report said. The DFSB made 46 recommendations, including improvements to fatigue management, minimum night flying altitudes over water, and better training for spatial disorientation. The Defence Aviation Authority has accepted all recommendations. The report is one of the most complex aviation investigations conducted by Defence. Separate probes by the Inspector-General of the ADF, Comcare, and the Queensland coroner remain ongoing.
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Final moments before Taipan crash revealed
A military pilot's last-second evasive manoeuvre likely saved four lives during a catastrophic Army helicopter crash in the Whitsundays, a new investigation has revealed. Captain Danniel Lyon, who died alongside co-pilot Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Phillip Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs, managed to avoid a mid-air collision despite losing control of his MRH-90 Taipan, according to a 228-page report by the Defence Flight Safety Bureau (DFSB). The crash occurred on July 28, 2023, during Exercise Talisman Sabre, when the Taipan, call sign Bushman 83, plunged into the ocean off Hamilton Island while flying in formation with three other helicopters. Victims of the MRH-90 Taipan crash (from left) Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Captain Danniel Lyon, Corporal Alex Naggs and Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock. Credit: News Corp Australia The DFSB concluded the primary cause was spatial disorientation, with Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent becoming disoriented for 21 seconds before impact. However, in the final moments, Captain Lyon rolled the aircraft to the right, diverting it from a potential collision course with Bushman 82. 'During the two and a half seconds after the pushover, (flight data recorder) analysis indicates that the relative distance between the two aircraft decreased from approximately 100 metres to 50 metres,' the report said. 'In response to this increasing closure, it is likely (Captain Lyon) acted to avoid a potential mid-air collision with BSMN 82 by executing an avoidance turn to the right.' Royal Australian Navy personnel assisted in recovering helicopter wreckage from the crash site. Credit: Supplied The report found Captain Lyon's action, taken while the aircraft was 'unrecoverable', likely prevented further loss of life. Cockpit audio captured a calm and focused exchange between Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent just seconds before the crash. 'It's getting dicey,' Captain Lyon said five seconds into a left-hand turn through rain showers. Moments later, he told Lieutenant Nugent, 'I'll just get around the corner for you mate … while we're dealing with the rain shower.' As they climbed, Captain Lyon asked: 'Have you still got em?' referring to the aircraft ahead. Lieutenant Nugent replied, 'Yeah, still get em mate.' Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers and Queensland Police Service during the recovery. Credit: Supplied Investigators believe this exchange marked the moment Captain Lyon lost visual contact with the Bushman 82 helicopter. He then began climbing through poor visibility and attempted quick manoeuvres to regain sight of the aircraft, rolling sharply right and then left. Neither Captain Lyon nor co-pilot Lieutenant Nugent appeared to notice a critical change in the aircraft's pitch, from nose-up to nose-down, as their helicopter climbed above the rest of the formation Unaware of the aircraft's downward attitude, Captain Lyon pitched down further, inadvertently pushing the aircraft into a fatal nose-down descent. In the final seconds before impact, Captain Lyon recognised that his plummeting helicopter, Bushman 83, was on a collision course with Bushman 82. Despite knowing his own chopper was unrecoverable, he took immediate evasive action, rolling sharply to the right in a final act that likely saved the lives of the four crew aboard Bushman 82. Bushman 83 hit the water at 10:36:25pm, travelling at 259km/h. The four men were killed instantly. Captain Lyon's last-second evasive manoeuvre likely saved four lives during the catastrophic Army helicopter crash in the Whitsundays. Credit: Supplied The DFSB noted that fatigue likely contributed to the spatial disorientation. Both Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent had been sleeping in tents at Proserpine Airport in the days prior and waited inside the aircraft for two hours before takeoff. The investigation also assessed whether the TopOwl 5.10 helmet, criticised in test reports for its inverted pitch and roll displays when pilots turn their heads, contributed to the crash. The helmet was described by Army test pilots as a 'substantial risk of multiple deaths', but the DFSB found it was 'very unlikely' to have caused the disorientation in this instance. 'While both AATES and Standards Section test and evaluation reports agreed that there were deficiencies relating to attitude presentation, the two agencies disagreed on the severity of the hazard,' the report said. The report into the crash is one of the most complex aviation investigations conducted by Defence. Credit: NCA NewsWire The DFSB made 46 recommendations, including improvements to fatigue management, minimum night flying altitudes over water, and better training for spatial disorientation. The Defence Aviation Authority has accepted all recommendations. The report is one of the most complex aviation investigations conducted by Defence. Separate probes by the Inspector-General of the ADF, Comcare, and the Queensland coroner remain ongoing.
Daily Express
21-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Australian chopper crash caused by pilot disorientation: report
Published on: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 21, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: The chopper had been taking part in the Talisman Sabre exercise, which brings together 30,000 military personnel from Australia, the United States and several other nations. - Pic for illustration only. Credit:/FILE SYDNEY: An Australian military helicopter crash that killed all four crew members was caused by the pilots becoming disoriented, a report found Wednesday. Four military aircrew were on board the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter when it plunged into the sea close to the Whitsunday Islands during a multinational military drill on the night of July 28, 2023. The chopper had been taking part in the Talisman Sabre exercise, which brings together 30,000 military personnel from Australia, the United States and several other nations. Australia's Defence Flight Safety Bureau report found the helicopter was waiting to land, flying in a holding pattern with 'degraded' viability. During this time, the pilots 'almost certainly lost visual sight' of the other aircraft. The helicopter began an 'inadvertent and unrecognised climb' to 362 feet (110 metres) before it crashed into the ocean. Advertisement The main reason for the crash was 'a loss of spatial orientation', also known as spatial disorientation, the report found. '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 Australian Defence Force said in a statement. 'This aviation safety investigation was one of the most complex conducted by Defence in recent history.' The investigation did not seek to place 'blame or liability' on any individuals or organisations, it added. The report made 46 recommendations to the Defence Force, all of which have been accepted. The Taipans, which have had a troubled history, were already due to leave service at the end of this year, with the Australian military switching to Black Hawks. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
