What happened
On Friday, 13 March 2026, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter registered VH-TCF and operated by Tasklake Pty Ltd crashed north of Drake in New South Wales, approximately 84 kilometres west of Lismore. The aircraft was operating a private flight from Gold Coast to Mudgee when it went down under unknown circumstances during the en route phase.
The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, was fatally injured in the accident. A post-impact fire was reported at the accident site by emergency responders and local authorities who attended the location.
The Robinson R44 Raven II, manufactured in 2007 and powered by a Lycoming IO-540-AE1A5 engine, sustained substantial damage in the crash. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) was notified of the occurrence and commenced a formal investigation.
- The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, was fatally injured in the accident