A HELICOPTER pilot recklessly operated his aircraft and put the life of his wife in danger, in a finding handed down in Batemans Bay Courthouse on Monday afternoon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
On April 24, 2011, Victor Arthur Hansen, then 72, was flying the aircraft when it crashed into the sea just 50 metres off Lilli Pilli Beach about 6.15pm.
His 70-year-old wife, the sole passenger was pronounced dead at the scene and Mr Hansen was winched to safety by a rescue helicopter.
After a seven-day hearing, Magistrate Doug Dick said many aspects of Mr Hansen’s flying processes were found wanting.
“I’m not satisfied the crash was caused by bad weather,” he said.
“It was caused by poor judgement and decision-making.”
Mr Dick said the pilot made an error when calculating last light (which, on April 24, was officially at 5.50pm), and did not recheck his calculations or allow sufficient time for the flight to arrive 10 minutes before last light.
“Mr Hansen should have obtained up-to-date authorised weather forecasts . . . and should not have prolonged the flight by flying towards the storm front for a closer look, which resulted in a loss of visual reference to the ground,” he said.
The pilot was also found to have dismissed possible emergency landing sites and had not radioed for help.
Mr Dick found the charge of operating an aircraft recklessly to endanger life proved and placed Mr Hansen on a two-year good behaviour bond with a surety of $5000.
RELATED CONTENT: Eyewitness account of fatal chopper crash