R44 fatal accident Broome - RIP! 
Ref: https://twitter.com/atsbgovau/status/127...2099708930
ATSB
@atsbgovau
The ATSB will investigate the collision with terrain of a Robinson R44 at Bilingurr, Broome, on Saturday afternoon. Transport safety investigators with experience in aircraft operations and maintenance will deploy to the accident site.
![[Image: EcEpL2ZUMAAM0T1?format=jpg&name=small]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcEpL2ZUMAAM0T1?format=jpg&name=small)
Broome helicopter crash pilot identified as tourism company founder Troy Thomas
The founder of an award-winning tourism company has been identified as the pilot and one of two people killed in a helicopter crash in Broome.
Key points:
Troy Thomas, 40, and a 12-year-old girl died when the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed on Antheous Way, Bilingurr, a northern suburb of Broome, just after 2:30pm on Saturday.
A woman in her 20s and another 12-year-old child were critically injured in the crash and have been flown to Perth for medical treatment.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and the sound of the helicopter prior to the crash, while sirens from the large-scale emergency response could be heard across Broome.
![[Image: 12423778-3x2-large.jpg?v=2]](https://www.abc.net.au/cm/rimage/12423778-3x2-large.jpg?v=2)
Troy Thomas was at the controls of the helicopter when it crashed in Broome.(Supplied: Facebook)
![[Image: 12423698-3x2-xlarge.jpg?v=2]](https://www.abc.net.au/cm/rimage/12423698-3x2-xlarge.jpg?v=2)
An RFDS plane transported the injured woman and child to Perth.(ABC News)
Mr Thomas started the award-winning Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures company in 2006, but sold it last year to tourism group Journey Beyond.
He was retained for one year as a manager, so was still working with the company at the time of his death.
He accepted an award on behalf of the company at the Australian Tourism Awards in March.
Friends, including sports commentator and former West Coast Eagles player Karl Langdon, took to social media to express their grief.
Small community left 'struggling'
Kimberley District Inspector Gene Pears said the crash and the deaths were having a significant impact on the local community.
"It's not a great day for Broome," he said.
"There were many witnesses to the crash, some may have heard something, some may have seen something.
![[Image: 12423946-3x2-xlarge.jpg?v=2]](https://www.abc.net.au/cm/rimage/12423946-3x2-xlarge.jpg?v=2)
Inspector Pears says the local community is reeling from the crash.(ABC News)
"We're interviewing witnesses at the moment, but this will be really tragic for people here in a small community, so many people would be affected, many people would be struggling.
"Please seek professional help and talk to each other and look after each other as Broome people do really well."
![[Image: 12423900-3x2-xlarge.jpg?v=3]](https://www.abc.net.au/cm/rimage/12423900-3x2-xlarge.jpg?v=3)
Police remain on the scene of the fatal crash.(ABC News)
Inspector Pears said as is the case in most country towns, the first responders would have known those involved in the crash.
He said while the investigation was still in its preliminary stages, it was understood the helicopter crashed shortly after take-off.
He said the crash site was being secured by police while they waited for officers from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to arrive.
![[Image: 12423894-3x2-xlarge.jpg?v=4]](https://www.abc.net.au/cm/rimage/12423894-3x2-xlarge.jpg?v=4)
Flowers left near the scene of the helicopter crash.(ABC News)
Tourism industry 'in mourning'
The WA branch of the Australian Tourism Export Council commented about Mr Thomas's death on social media.
"The Tourism Industry is in mourning today with the very sad news of the tragic death of Troy Thomas in Broome," it said.
"Troy was the founder of the award winning Horizontal Falls Adventure Company, a devoted husband and father, son, brother and friend to many … a beautiful soul who will be missed, but whose legacy will remain as a trailblazer for tourism in Western Australia.
"Our sincere condolences to Troy's family and friends, and to the family of the little girl who also did not survive the helicopter crash."
WA Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said he was deeply saddened by Mr Thomas's death.
"The Western Australian tourism industry has lost a valued leader and a good friend," Mr Papalia said in a statement.
Natasha Mahar, chief executive of marketing body Australia's North West, said Mr Thomas was an iconic figure for tourism in the region and worked tirelessly to put Horizontal Falls on the map.
"He really was a character of the Kimberley and he put all his hard work and effort into really making people happy and making their day and giving them an experience that they wouldn't ordinarily find anywhere else in the world," she said.
The ATSB said it was bringing in investigators from WA and interstate to examine the wreckage and the crash site.
AE-2020-008 : Technical Assistance to RAAus - Collision with terrain involving BRM Aero Bristell, 24-8555, Kanangra-Boyd National Park, NSW, on 16 December 2019
Summary
On 16 December 2019, a BRM Aero Bristell aircraft, recreational registration 24-8555, collided with terrain in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, near Oberon, New South Wales. The pilot was fatally injured.
In response, Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) commenced an investigation into the occurrence and requested technical assistance from the ATSB in the recovery of flight data from two instrumentation units – a Dynon SV-D1000 and Garmin aera 795; both of which were subsequently provided by NSW Police.[/size]
The ATSB successfully downloaded data from both devices, including flight path information and aircraft operational parameters. Figures 1 and 2 summarise this information.
Both instrumentation units were returned to NSW Police on 23 June 2020 and a technical report and all recovered data provided to RAAus on 24 June 2020.
With the completion of this work, the ATSB has concluded its involvement in the investigation of this accident. Any further enquiries in relation to the investigation should be directed to Recreational Aviation Australia.
The information contained in this update is released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.
Figure 1: Flight paths from Garmin and Dynon units
![[Image: ae2020008_figure-1_final.png?width=617&h...6&mode=max]](https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5778277/ae2020008_figure-1_final.png?width=617&height=356&mode=max)
[b]Source: Google Earth, GPS points by ATSB[/b]
[b]Figure 2: Selected flight parameters[/b]
![[Image: ae2020008_figure-2_final.png?width=616&h...8&mode=max]](https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5778278/ae2020008_figure-2_final.png?width=616&height=278&mode=max)
Source: ATSB
Why do I get the feeling that the Hooded Canary's aviary was glad to see the back of that particular accident, especially when you consider what the tail end of the GPS vertical profile pictorial appears to show -
Hmm...a quick referral to the RAAus bollocks 'Accident and defect summaries' page 8:
Simply put unless the NSW Coroner's office decides to examine further, that'll be the last we hear about that particular fatal LSA (Light Sports Aircraft) accident -
MTF...P2
Ref: https://twitter.com/atsbgovau/status/127...2099708930
ATSB
@atsbgovau
The ATSB will investigate the collision with terrain of a Robinson R44 at Bilingurr, Broome, on Saturday afternoon. Transport safety investigators with experience in aircraft operations and maintenance will deploy to the accident site.
Broome helicopter crash pilot identified as tourism company founder Troy Thomas
The founder of an award-winning tourism company has been identified as the pilot and one of two people killed in a helicopter crash in Broome.
Key points:
- Troy Thomas was at the controls of the helicopter when it crashed
- He died along with a 12-year-old girl, two others were critically injured
- Mr Thomas has been remembered as a "devoted husband and father" and a "beautiful soul"
Troy Thomas, 40, and a 12-year-old girl died when the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed on Antheous Way, Bilingurr, a northern suburb of Broome, just after 2:30pm on Saturday.
A woman in her 20s and another 12-year-old child were critically injured in the crash and have been flown to Perth for medical treatment.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and the sound of the helicopter prior to the crash, while sirens from the large-scale emergency response could be heard across Broome.
Troy Thomas was at the controls of the helicopter when it crashed in Broome.(Supplied: Facebook)
An RFDS plane transported the injured woman and child to Perth.(ABC News)
Mr Thomas started the award-winning Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures company in 2006, but sold it last year to tourism group Journey Beyond.
He was retained for one year as a manager, so was still working with the company at the time of his death.
He accepted an award on behalf of the company at the Australian Tourism Awards in March.
Friends, including sports commentator and former West Coast Eagles player Karl Langdon, took to social media to express their grief.
Small community left 'struggling'
Kimberley District Inspector Gene Pears said the crash and the deaths were having a significant impact on the local community.
"It's not a great day for Broome," he said.
"There were many witnesses to the crash, some may have heard something, some may have seen something.
Inspector Pears says the local community is reeling from the crash.(ABC News)
"We're interviewing witnesses at the moment, but this will be really tragic for people here in a small community, so many people would be affected, many people would be struggling.
"Please seek professional help and talk to each other and look after each other as Broome people do really well."
Police remain on the scene of the fatal crash.(ABC News)
Inspector Pears said as is the case in most country towns, the first responders would have known those involved in the crash.
He said while the investigation was still in its preliminary stages, it was understood the helicopter crashed shortly after take-off.
He said the crash site was being secured by police while they waited for officers from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to arrive.
Flowers left near the scene of the helicopter crash.(ABC News)
Tourism industry 'in mourning'
The WA branch of the Australian Tourism Export Council commented about Mr Thomas's death on social media.
"The Tourism Industry is in mourning today with the very sad news of the tragic death of Troy Thomas in Broome," it said.
"Troy was the founder of the award winning Horizontal Falls Adventure Company, a devoted husband and father, son, brother and friend to many … a beautiful soul who will be missed, but whose legacy will remain as a trailblazer for tourism in Western Australia.
"Our sincere condolences to Troy's family and friends, and to the family of the little girl who also did not survive the helicopter crash."
WA Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said he was deeply saddened by Mr Thomas's death.
"The Western Australian tourism industry has lost a valued leader and a good friend," Mr Papalia said in a statement.
Natasha Mahar, chief executive of marketing body Australia's North West, said Mr Thomas was an iconic figure for tourism in the region and worked tirelessly to put Horizontal Falls on the map.
"He really was a character of the Kimberley and he put all his hard work and effort into really making people happy and making their day and giving them an experience that they wouldn't ordinarily find anywhere else in the world," she said.
The ATSB said it was bringing in investigators from WA and interstate to examine the wreckage and the crash site.
AE-2020-008 : Technical Assistance to RAAus - Collision with terrain involving BRM Aero Bristell, 24-8555, Kanangra-Boyd National Park, NSW, on 16 December 2019
Summary
On 16 December 2019, a BRM Aero Bristell aircraft, recreational registration 24-8555, collided with terrain in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, near Oberon, New South Wales. The pilot was fatally injured.
In response, Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) commenced an investigation into the occurrence and requested technical assistance from the ATSB in the recovery of flight data from two instrumentation units – a Dynon SV-D1000 and Garmin aera 795; both of which were subsequently provided by NSW Police.[/size]
The ATSB successfully downloaded data from both devices, including flight path information and aircraft operational parameters. Figures 1 and 2 summarise this information.
Both instrumentation units were returned to NSW Police on 23 June 2020 and a technical report and all recovered data provided to RAAus on 24 June 2020.
With the completion of this work, the ATSB has concluded its involvement in the investigation of this accident. Any further enquiries in relation to the investigation should be directed to Recreational Aviation Australia.
The information contained in this update is released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003.
Figure 1: Flight paths from Garmin and Dynon units
[b]Source: Google Earth, GPS points by ATSB[/b]
[b]Figure 2: Selected flight parameters[/b]
Source: ATSB
Why do I get the feeling that the Hooded Canary's aviary was glad to see the back of that particular accident, especially when you consider what the tail end of the GPS vertical profile pictorial appears to show -
Hmm...a quick referral to the RAAus bollocks 'Accident and defect summaries' page 8:
Quote:16/12/2019: Fatal Accident involving RAAus member. RAAus accident consultants are assisting police in determining the causal factors that led to the accident.
Simply put unless the NSW Coroner's office decides to examine further, that'll be the last we hear about that particular fatal LSA (Light Sports Aircraft) accident -
MTF...P2