Instructor Roger Corbin was taking pilot John Osborne through a simulated emergency exercise near Hobart Airport when the crash occurred on November 7.

During the exercise, which simulated a hydraulic system failure, the pilot reduced the helicopter’s airspeed to 60 knots, as instructed in aircraft’s flight manual. 

The manual stated the pilot needed to exert additional force on flight controls to maintain this speed without hydraulic assistance and transition to a slow run-on landing through a flat approach into the wind.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said as the helicopter descended into the training area, it appeared to be control.

But then it slowed into a hover 30 feet above the ground before an abrupt nose-dive to the left of the cockpit, seconds later.

Mr Corbin, who was on the left side of the cabin, was killed instantly and Mr Osborne was left seriously injured and in hospital for days.

The ATSB noted that the training procedure section of the aircraft’s manual cautioned pilots to:

“…not attempt to carry out hover flight or any low speed manoeuvre without hydraulic pressure assistance.

“The intensity and direction of the control feedback forces will change rapidly.

“This will result in excessive pilot workload, poor aircraft control, and possible loss of control.”

The investigation will now review the conduct of training operations, helicopter systems, and environmental influences before presenting a final report next year.