Fleet Air Arm
Association of Australia
Sea King
Board of Inquiry
24 June 2007
The absence of a small metal pin on the steering mechanism was crucial in the events that led to the fatal crash of the Sea King helicopter in Nias, Indonesia, in April 2005.
The Board of Inquiry into the crash has concluded the pin was probably not in place, and has condemned aviation maintainance and safety practices.
The Navy has accepted that the accident should not have happened and has said it takes full responsibility.
On 2 April 2005 the RAN Sea King helicopter Shark 02 crashed on the island of Nias, Indonesia, while participating in an Australian Defence Force humanitarian aid mission.
The accident resulted in the deaths of nine ADF members and serious injuries to a further two.
The Board deliberated for almost 20 months, considered evidence from more than 160 witnesses, reviewed 560 exhibits, conducted hearings over 111 days and produced approximately 10,000 pages of transcript.
The Board's Report is approximately 1,700 pages long and consists of 759 findings and 256 recommendations for improving aviation safety.
Navy and Defence have said they will fix the safety problems identified in the Report by implementing all of the Board's recommendations in full.
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