Overview

• The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report confirms that a faulty radio antenna prevented a crucial taxiing call, contributing to the collision.
• Visibility limitations and flawed safety protocols, including ineffective radio calls and hand signals, led to miscommunication between the two pilots.
• Recent operational changes, such as helicopter modifications and a helipad location swap, disrupted established safety processes and increased collision risks.
• Evidence of improper passenger restraints was found, though the report could not determine their impact on the severity of injuries.
• The findings are expected to inform ongoing litigation and drive broader regulatory reforms in recreational aviation safety.