Current:Home > StocksCrocodile egg hunter dangling from helicopter died after chopper ran out of fuel, investigation finds-LoTradeCoin
Crocodile egg hunter dangling from helicopter died after chopper ran out of fuel, investigation finds
lotradecoin API View Date:2024-12-25 12:45:29
An Australian crocodile egg hunter was killed after the helicopter he was dangling from ran out of fuel mid-flight, accident investigators said this week.
The pilot of the Robinson R44 helicopter took cocaine in the days before the February 2022 accident, and likely failed to refuel as planned during the Northern Territory outing, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in its final report.
The crocodile egg collector, "Outback Wrangler" television series personality Chris Wilson, had been attached to the helicopter from a 100-foot line when disaster struck, it said.
When the fuel ran out and the helicopter fell, "the pilot released the egg collector above a likely-survivable height, fatally injuring him," the safety authority said.
Soon after, the fatally injured egg collector was found on the ground, still wearing a harness and line, which had been disconnected from the aircraft, it said.
The pilot lay beside the helicopter with "serious injuries."
Investigators said the pilot had failed to notice the dropping fuel before the tank ran dry.
They found "the pilot's exposure to cocaine within the previous few days increased the likelihood of fatigue, depression and inattention, however there was insufficient evidence to determine whether these effects occurred."
Three people have since been charged in relation to the the incident, including the pilot and Netflix star Matt Wright, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Investigators also found that the operator was not using its safety management system to identify and manage operational hazards.
"As a result, the operator did not adequately address the risks inherent in conducting human sling operations, such as carriage of the egg collector above a survivable fall height," ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said in a statement, adding that the operator had a "history of non-compliance with regulatory requirements, maintenance standards and accurate record keeping."
The Northern Territory allows hunters to collect wild crocodile eggs to help manage populations, allowing them to be sold to farms that use the reptiles for their leather.
"Ultimately, this tragic accident highlights how the actions and decisions of pilots, operators and the regulator can all have a significant influence on aviation safety," Mitchell said.
- In:
- Australia
veryGood! (279)
Related
- Fewer U.S. grandparents are taking care of grandchildren, according to new data
- Statistics from Negro Leagues officially integrated into MLB record books
- 1 person found dead in building explosion in downtown Youngstown, Ohio: reports
- Video shows incredible nighttime rainbow form in Yosemite National Park
- China's ruling Communist Party expels former chief of sports body
- Molly Ringwald Says She Was Taken Advantage of as a Young Actress in Hollywood
- Open AI CEO Sam Altman and husband promise to donate half their wealth to charity
- California beach reopens after closing when shark bumped surfer off surfboard: Reports
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- The US-built pier in Gaza broke apart. Here’s how we got here and what might be next
Ranking
- China's new tactic against Taiwan: drills 'that dare not speak their name'
- New Hampshire’s limits on teaching on race and gender are unconstitutional, judge says
- 'Wolfs' trailer: George Clooney, Brad Pitt reunite for first film together in 16 years
- VP Harris to address US Air Force Academy graduates
- Save 30% on the Perfect Spongelle Holiday Gifts That Make Every Day a Spa Day
- 'Moana 2' trailer: Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson set sail in Disney sequel
- This Under-the-Radar, Affordable Fashion Brand Will Make You Look like an Influencer
- West Virginia’s first ombudsman for state’s heavily burdened foster care system resigns
Recommendation
-
Manager of pet grooming salon charged over death of corgi that fell off table
-
Yellowstone's Ryan Bingham Marries Costar Hassie Harrison in Western-Themed Wedding
-
A year after Titan sub implosion, an Ohio billionaire says he wants to make his own voyage to Titanic wreckage
-
F-35 fighter jet worth $135M crashes near Albuquerque International Sunport, pilot injured
-
US inflation likely edged up last month, though not enough to deter another Fed rate cut
-
Dwyane Wade to debut as Team USA men's basketball analyst for NBC at 2024 Paris Olympics
-
Thunder GM Sam Presti 'missed' on Gordon Hayward trade: 'That's on me'
-
Suspect indicted in Alabama killings of 3 family members, friend