QLD Cattle baron dies in Robinson R44 crash whilst mustering - 04/04/2023

[onetrack]

Alan Acton (65), a "giant" of the Queensland cattle industry and owner of Wilpeena Cattle Co., was killed just before midday today, when the Robinson R44 helicopter he was reportedly using for mustering, was involved in a "collision with terrain" on his property, about 140 kms West of Rockhampton..

 

The ATSB has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. There are reports that properties in the area were without power after the crash, seeming to indicate a collision with a power line may have been a factor in the crash.

 

Incredibly, Alans brother, Graeme (63) died from injuries resulting from a fall from a horse, in a campdrafting accident in 2014.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-04/central-queensland-alan-acton-dies-bingegang-helicopter-crash/102186060

 

https://www.beefcentral.com/news/cq-cattleman-alan-acton-killed-in-helicopter-accident/

 

Edited April 4, 2023 by onetrack

[turboplanner]

9 hours ago, onetrack said:

Alan Acton (65), a "giant" of the Queensland cattle industry and owner of Wilpeena Cattle Co., was killed just before midday today, when the Robinson R44 helicopter he was reportedly using for mustering, was involved in a "collision with terrain" on his property, about 140 kms West of Rockhampton..

 

The ATSB has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. There are reports that properties in the area were without power after the crash, seeming to indicate a collision with a power line may have been a factor in the crash.

 

Incredibly, Alans brother, Graeme (63) died from injuries resulting from a fall from a horse, in a campdrafting accident in 2014.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-04/central-queensland-alan-acton-dies-bingegang-helicopter-crash/102186060

 

https://www.beefcentral.com/news/cq-cattleman-alan-acton-killed-in-helicopter-accident/

 

You can just see a pole through the trees in the top photo and a pole with dangling wires in the second photo. 

[Student Pilot]

SWER lines are very hard to see.

[turboplanner]

2 hours ago, Student Pilot said:

SWER lines are very hard to see.

I guess in your business you get the opportunity to know where you'll be flying for each run.

I would imagine trying to herd cattle where most will be running in a single direction, but one or two will always make a run for it in the other 359 degrees would add to the risk.

[Student Pilot]

Like any low level operations a reccy before flying low into the block to pick the hazards is SOPs. Can miss them or temporarily forget about them, most line strikes the pilot knew about them. With mustering private ops there never used to be much training, a so called low level check was all that's needed.