Brisbane Training Flight Report Highlights Risks of Low-Level Manoeuvres

An investigation into a helicopter training incident near Brisbane has underscored the dangers of performing advanced manoeuvres at low altitude, after a student and instructor lost control during a practice exercise earlier this year.

The pair departed Archerfield Airport in Brisbane’s south at around 7.30am on February 26, heading to the Pannikin training area to conduct advanced emergency procedures. According to the report, the student had already completed four torque turns successfully before attempting a fifth.

“As the lesson neared completion, they elected to do one more torque turn before returning to base,” the report noted. The instructor later recalled that wind conditions had picked up slightly and gusts had begun, though he did not consider them abnormal. Both he and the student had flown in similar conditions before.

At the top of the final torque turn, the helicopter reached a height of 100 to 150 feet above ground level before beginning to descend in order to build airspeed and return to level flight. It was at this point that control was lost.

Dr Stuart Godley, Director of Transport Safety, stressed the importance of altitude in training environments. “In a training environment, where a student has limited experience to manage unexpected aircraft behaviour, it is vital to ensure and maintain sufficient height for recovery,” he said.

Torque turns, which involve a rapid 180-degree change in direction, are considered advanced manoeuvres and are not part of the standard commercial pilot licence syllabus. Investigators noted that while the manoeuvre itself was not inherently unsafe, performing it at such a low altitude left little margin for error or recovery.

The report concluded that the combination of low height, gusting winds, and the student’s limited experience contributed to the breakdown during the final attempt. While no fatalities occurred, the incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with advanced training exercises when safety margins are reduced.