Bell 206 accident near Dorrigo, Australia, Au, December 9, 2009
On December 9, 2009 at about 12:25 pm local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered VHMJO, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Dorrigo, Australia. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial 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 9, 2009 · about 12:25 pm local time
- Place
- Dorrigo, Australia, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 L1 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- VHMJO · no longer on the register · serial 45745
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 9, 2009, at 1225 universal coordinated time a Bell 206 L-1, VH-MJO, operated by Commercial Helicopters Pty Ltd. collided with the terrain during takeoff near Dorrigo, Australia. The flight was for the purpose of performing an aerial survey. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured and a crew member was killed. The flight was departing at the time. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Australia. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Australia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) P.O. Box 967, civic Square Canberra A.C.T. 2608 Australia Tel: +612 6274 6054 Fax: +612 6274 6434
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C20 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Commercial Helicopters Pty Ltd
The flight
- Departed from: Dorrigo, Australia
- Destination: Dorrigo, Australia
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.