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R44 helicopter crash that killed 12-year-old girl was preventable

written by Jake Nelson | April 12, 2023

The family of a 12-year-old girl killed in a July 2020 helicopter crash in Broome has called for better regulation after an ATSB investigation concluded the accident could have been prevented by removing the aircraft from service following pilot reports of unusual vibrations.

The Robinson R44 helicopter, VH-NBY (pictured), had just taken off for a private joy flight when its empennage and tail rotor system separated and broke away, causing it to crash into a road. The pilot and 12-year-old passenger Amber Jess Millar were killed in the accident, with two other passengers seriously injured.

According to the ATSB’s report, the crash was caused by an overstress fracture in the tail rotor gearbox’s input cartridge that may have been picked up had more been done about reports of unusual vibrations in the rotor pedals.

“As the vibration was reported to only occur in flight, and no defect was identified, it was reasonable to have concluded that the problem may still be present,” said the ATSB’s chief commissioner Angus Mitchell.

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“As such, the safest next step, which is recommended by the helicopter manufacturer, would be to conduct a graduated flight check of hovering then re-inspection. Preferably, this would be with only a prepared pilot on board. Instead, the next flight, during which the accident occurred, involved the conduct of a high‑power towering take-off from a confined area with 3 passengers on board.

“This investigation highlights that helicopters should not be returned to service until the source of any unusual vibration in vital components such as rotor pedals have been found and rectified,” he said.

In a statement, Amber’s mother and stepfather, Clint and Fiona Benbow, have excoriated the operator of the joy flight for not taking the aircraft out of service, and criticised the length of the ATSB investigation.

“Amber’s death was preventable – as highlighted by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report, which demonstrates the flight should never have taken place. Amber would be here now if the tourism operator and their maintenance team were working to, and held accountable to, higher standards,” they said.

“While we thank the ATSB for its thorough investigation, we are incredibly frustrated that it has taken 2 years and 9 months. This may have a significant knock-on effect in holding people to account for Amber’s death, as WorkSafe must commence a prosecution within 3 years of an accident under the then-applicable Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.

“We ask Minister Bill Johnston to instruct WorkSafe to swiftly examine these new facts and determine if there can be prosecutions within the 3-year timeframe under the Act. With their responsibilities for the safety of locals and visitors, we hope that the relevant Ministers will be sympathetic to our calls for action on Amber’s death.”

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