Pilot incapacitation occurrences 2010–2014

Heart attack in flight
During a private flight with a passenger in an amateur-built Safari Helicopter, the
pilot became incapacitated from a heart attack and the helicopter subsequently
collided with terrain. The passenger sustained serious injuries (ATSB occurrence
201108241).
Loss of consciousness during aerial work
The pilot and crewman of a Robinson R44 took off from an airstrip 150 km south of
Newman, Western Australia to conduct low-level geophysical survey operations in
the area. This task involved a survey of a large area of land factoring the curvature
of the earth’s surface.
During the flight, the crewman in a forward-facing seat directly behind the pilot
noted the helicopter veering and descending. At the same time, the crewman
observed the pilot slumped in the seat. The pilot’s shoulder harness appeared to
have prevented their shoulders slumping further forward. The crewman attempted
to wake the pilot, but without success and the helicopter’s descent rate continued.
The helicopter slowed, veered right, and impacted terrain. The helicopter impacted
the ground in a nose-down attitude, resulting in substantial crush damage to the
underside of the helicopter’s forward fuselage.
Despite being incapacitated and unresponsive prior to impact, the crewman
reported that the pilot became responsive enough to offer assistance with the
activation of the emergency equipment following the accident. However, the pilot
subsequently died from their injuries before the arrival of medical assistance. The
crewman sustained serious injuries.
Examination of the wreckage did not identify any defects in the helicopter that
would have affected normal flight. The pilot’s post-mortem examination did not find
any evidence of any medical conditions and the cause of death was from chest
injuries sustained in the accident.
The ATSB investigation found many inconsistencies in the pilot’s medical
history and aviation medical records. The pilot had experienced several loss of
consciousness episodes 10 years prior to the accident that were not reported in
their aviation medical records. Furthermore, the pilot was prescribed medication
6 years previously that was not reported to CASA. Reporting medication was a
requirement of the Class 1 Medical Certificate held at the time. Had the earlier loss
of consciousness episodes been recorded, this would have warranted a follow-up
by the DAME, who remained unaware of these episodes.
Without evidence of abnormalities in the helicopter prior to collision, it was
concluded the pilot experienced a loss of consciousness episode, which prevented
them from controlling the helicopter’s descent before the collision with terrain
(ATSB investigation AO-2011-109).
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