Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. BK117 B-2 accident near Ulladulla, Au, August 17, 2018
On August 17, 2018 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. BK117 B-2 (helicopter), registered VHJWB, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Ulladulla. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. 1 person was killed.
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
- August 17, 2018 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ulladulla, Australia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. BK117 B-2
- Registration
- VHJWB · no longer on the register · serial 1094
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 17, 2018, about 1400 local time, a Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. BK117 B-2 helicopter, VH-JWB, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during aerial firefighting operations near Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia. The helicopter was operated by Sydney Helicopters. The commercial pilot was fatally 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) 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
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS101 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
Weather at the time
- 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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.