Robinson R44 accident near Nowra, Au, February 4, 2012
On February 4, 2012 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Robinson R44, registered VHCOK, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Nowra. It was an aerial observation flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed. 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
- February 4, 2012 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Nowra, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 II · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- VHCOK · no longer on the register · serial 10421
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 4, 2012, at 1555 local time, a Robinson R44 II, Australian registry VH-COK, collided with terrain near Nowra Aerodrome, NSW, Australia. The helicopter was operated by Bankstown Helicopters PTY Limited, of Georges Hall, NSW, Australia, under the pertinent provisions of the Australian Civil Aviation Regulations. The helicotper was destroyed in the collision sequence and the two occupants sustained fatal injuries. The accident is under the jurisdiction of, and is being investigated by, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). This report contains only the information released by the ATSB. For further information, contact the ATSB at: Australian Transport Safety Bureau PO Box 967 Civic Square ACT 2608 Australia Phone 61 2 6257 4150 Web: 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 maneuvering
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bankstown Helicopters Pty Ltd
The flight
- Departed from: Jaspers Brush
- Destination: Jaspers Brush
- 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 | |||
| 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.