Instructor dead, teen student pilot critical after helicopter crashes into car

An instructor has died, and a teenage student pilot is in a critical condition after the helicopter conducting a training flight hurtled towards powerlines, crashing onto a busy street in Sydney’s south-west on Friday afternoon.

Footage obtained by Nine News shows the moment the helicopter began hurtling towards the street, just outside Bankstown Airport, crashing into a tree and then a car below, before concerned locals rushed over to help.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 1.30pm after reports of a helicopter crash.

A male instructor was treated by paramedics, but was unable to be revived and died at the scene.

The 19-year-old male, the student pilot, was also treated for serious injuries before he was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a critical condition. He had head and facial injuries, as well as possible spinal injuries, NSW Ambulance said.

Aerial images show the helicopter split in two, having sustained heavy damage to its passenger pit. The car’s boot was damaged.

Police established a crime scene and handed over the investigation to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which confirmed that the helicopter – a popular model for training flights – collided with terrain.

“The ASTB has launched a transport safety investigation into a collision with terrain accident involving a Robinson R22 helicopter just outside Bankstown Airport,” the bureau said in a statement.

A team of safety investigators from the bureau who specialise in operations, engineering and maintenance will be deployed from Canberra and tasked with investigating how the crash occurred.

“The piston-engine helicopter had been conducting a training flight with an instructor and student pilot on board when it collided with terrain and was destroyed.

“Planned activities include site and wreckage examination, mapping of the site, and recovery of any helicopter components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.

“Investigators are also collecting relevant recorded information, including any flight tracking data, weather information, and pilot and helicopter maintenance records,” the bureau said.

The man who died is yet to be formally identified. A report will be prepared for the coroner.

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