Robinson R22 accident near Mcarthur River Mine, Au, August 16, 2020
On August 16, 2020 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Robinson R22 (helicopter), registered VHYMU, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Mcarthur River Mine. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. The NTSB record does not give the injuries. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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 16, 2020 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mcarthur River Mine, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Robinson R22 BETA · all R22s on the register
- Registration
- VHYMU · no longer on the register · serial 4560
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,371 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-J2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.