Robinson R-44 accident near Westgate Bridge, As, December 29, 2007
On December 29, 2007 at about 7:08 pm local time, a Robinson R-44 (helicopter) was substantially damaged in an accident near Westgate Bridge. It was an instructional flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- December 29, 2007 · about 7:08 pm local time
- Place
- Westgate Bridge, American Samoa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R-44 · all R-44s on the register
- Registration
- not recorded
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 29, 2007, at 1908 local time, a Robinson R-44, Australian registry VH-MEB, impacted the Yarra River shortly after takeoff near Westgate Bridge, Victoria, Australia. The helicopter was operated by Helicopter Flight Center. The instructor pilot was fatally injured and the pilot under instruction was seriously injured; the helicopter was destroyed. The Australian Transportation Safety Bureau reported that the helicopter took off with a reported 20-25 knot quartering tail wind; at 50 feet agl the helicopter was observed attempting to turn back to the helipad, at which point it descended and impacted the water on its left side. This accident is under the jurisdiction of, and is being investigated by, the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau. Further information can be obtained by contacting them at: 15 Mort St, Braddon, ACT 2612, Australia PO Box 967, Civic Square ACT 2806, Australia Phone: +61 2 6230 4408 Web Site www.atsb.gov.au
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Westgate Bridge
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
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.