An investigation has revealed that the pilot of a helicopter that crashed into the roof of an Australian hotel two months ago had alcohol in his system and was not authorised to fly at night. The tragic incident, which took place in the city of Cairns on August 12th, resulted in the pilot, identified as 23-year-old New Zealand citizen Blake Wilson, losing his life.
Following the crash, which led to the hospitalisation of two hotel guests due to smoke inhalation and the evacuation of 400 people from the hotel, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau conducted a thorough investigation and released its final report on the matter. The report highlighted that the four-minute flight had not been authorised, and there were no airworthiness issues identified as contributing factors to the crash of the Robinson R44 helicopter.
Despite holding commercial pilot licenses in both Australia and New Zealand and having experience flying R44 helicopters, Wilson was not permitted to fly at night by his employer, Nautilus Aviation. The investigation revealed that Wilson had been drinking with colleagues and friends at various Cairns bars before his ill-fated flight and had a significant blood-alcohol content at the time of the crash.
Prior to the incident, Wilson had been scheduled to be transferred to an island located 800 kilometres away from Cairns. The report detailed that he had gone from his apartment to Cairns Airport, accessed a Nautilus hangar using a security code, and took off in the helicopter towards Cairns. Security camera footage showed the helicopter flying over various landmarks before descending steeply onto the hotel roof.
The investigation further found that Wilson had intentionally switched off the helicopter’s strobe lights, making it difficult to detect the flight from the airport’s air traffic control tower. The Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Angus Mitchell, stated that Wilson had taken deliberate steps to conceal the nature of his flight, resulting in an extraordinary set of circumstances for the bureau to investigate.
This tragic incident underscores the importance of adherence to safety regulations and the dangers of operating aircraft under the influence of alcohol. The findings of the investigation serve as a poignant reminder of the need for strict compliance with aviation protocols to ensure the safety of both pilots and the public.