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The investigation found the pilot, who had significant experience under his belt, flew despite the bad weather conditions forecast.
The Bell 206L-4 LongRanger aircraft was one of seven helicopters taking part in a flying tour that day but two aircraft diverted to Wagga Wagga amid the conditions, while four aircraft landed near Wee Jasper, to Canberra’s north-west.
Woodland elected to continue on solo before landing briefly in open terrain alongside Long Plain Road in the Brindabella region, west of Canberra.
Then, just before 3pm, the helicopter took off again from there at low level and in overcast conditions with low cloud and light rain.
About 3.25pm, recorded data showed the aircaft made a a rapid climb and shortly after, began a steep left descending turn, which ended in the fatal accident.
Police described the crash site as a “horrific scene”.
“From what we understand we may have had reports of this helicopter on Sunday afternoon landing safely due to weather conditions,” Superintendent John Klepczarek said at the time.
“Then we have reports that the chopper crashed last night.”
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ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said in the report “the pilot initially made the right decision” when landing the helicopter in those conditions.
“However, you’re only as safe as your last decision, and the pilot’s then decision to launch again and push on – for reasons that we will never fully comprehend – put the helicopter into a dangerous environment with powerful and misleading orientation sensations and no visual cues,” he said.
“It is highly likely these cloud and visibility conditions resulted in the pilot experiencing a loss of visual reference and probably becoming spatially disoriented.
“Tragically, this led to a loss of control of the helicopter and an unsurvivable collision with terrain.”
The ATSB chief commissioner stressed the importance of planning ahead to avoid deteriorating weather.
“Don’t push on,” Mitchell urged pilots.
“Pushing on into cloud and low visibility when you do not hold the appropriate rating and experience carries a significant risk of severe spatial disorientation and can affect any pilot, no matter what their level of experience.”
In the decade to November 1, 2022, there were 97 similar occurrences in Australian airspace that were reported to the ATSB and of those, 11 were accidents that resulted in 22 fatalities.
