AN INQUEST into the fatal helicopter crash which ploughed into a hill and exploded near the Gunpowder copper mine Mount Isa, in February 2006 has commenced.
CopperCo had chartered the aircraft from North Australian Helicopters (NAH) to perform an aerial survey of proposed mining facilities when it crashed.Ian Harvey, counsel assisting state coroner Michael Barnes, says the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) in the wake of the crash suggested the helicopter had been overloaded at the time.
The ATSB report found the weight of the aircraft would not have been suitable for hovering given the hot weather conditions on the day of the crash putting the safety of the operation in jeopardy.
The inquest was told NAH would dispute that conclusion, as it believed the ATSB had miscalculated how much fuel the helicopter had been carrying at the time.
Harvey claims the inquest will also explore whether other issues such as whether the pilot was a safe and competent operator.
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