What happened
On Monday, August 12, 2024, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter registered VH-ERH and operated by Nautilus Aviation Pty Ltd was stolen from Cairns Airport, Queensland. The aircraft, manufactured in 2008 and powered by a Textron Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 engine, was flown unauthorized from the airport at approximately 1:50 am local time.
The solo pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, lost control of the aircraft during the unauthorized flight. The R44 subsequently crashed into the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns, resulting in a massive fireball and the destruction of the aircraft. The pilot was fatally injured in the impact.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has initiated an investigation into this serious occurrence, which involved an illegal flight operation and resulted in a fatal outcome.
- The solo pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, lost control of the aircraft during the unauthorized flight