Robinson R44 accident near Cessnock, Australia, Au, February 4, 2011
On February 4, 2011, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered VHHFH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cessnock, Australia. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
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
- February 4, 2011
- Place
- Cessnock, Australia, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 UNDESIGNAT · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- VHHFH · no longer on the register · serial 0505
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 4, 2011, at 0047 universal coordinated time, a Robinson R-44, VH-HFH, operated by Aero Logistics Pty, collided with terrain during an instructional flight near Cessnock, Australia. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the pilot and a passenger were killed. The second pilot was seriously injured. 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) Level 2 West, 62 Northbourne Ave, Canberra, Australia 2601 PO Box 967, Civic Square, Canberra ACT, Australia 2608 Phone: +(61) 2 6257-4150 Fax: +(61) 2 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Logistics Pty
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 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.