Robinson R-22 Beta accident near Charters Towers, As, March 31, 2004
On March 31, 2004 at about 10:01 am local time, a Robinson R-22 Beta (helicopter), registered VHHHD, was destroyed in an accident near Charters Towers. It was an aerial observation flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2004 · about 10:01 am local time
- Place
- Charters Towers, American Samoa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-22 Beta · all R-22 Betas on the register
- Registration
- VHHHD · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: North Australian Helicopters Pty Ltd
The flight
- Departed from: Charters Towers
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.