Garlick TH1F accident near Canowindra, Au, December 23, 2009
On December 23, 2009 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Garlick TH1F (helicopter), registered VHUHD, was involved in an accident during maneuvering near Canowindra. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 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 23, 2009 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Canowindra, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Garlick TH1F NO SERIES
- Registration
- VHUHD · no longer on the register · serial 66-1233
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 23, 2009, at 1850 local time, a Garlick TH-1F helicopter (modified Bell 204), Australian registry VH-UHD, registered to and operated by Coloundra Helicopter Center Pty, Ltd., collided with trees and terrain while maneuvering during an aerial fire fighting operations near Canowindra, Australia. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The pilot sustained serious injuries. 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 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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Caloundra Helicoper Centre Pty Ltd
The flight
- Departed from: Canowindra
- Destination: Canowindra
- 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 |
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.