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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/06/eagle-may-have-brought-down-helicopter-in-nsw-bushland-killing-pilot-report-says
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| Eagle may have brought down helicopter in NSW bushland killing pilot, report says | Eagle may have brought down helicopter in NSW bushland killing pilot, report says |
| (3 months later) | |
| Bird strike contributed to crash near Maroota, north-west of Sydney, Australian Transport Safety Bureau says | Bird strike contributed to crash near Maroota, north-west of Sydney, Australian Transport Safety Bureau says |
| A helicopter may have struck an eagle shortly before breaking up, crashing and killing the pilot in remote bushland north-west of Sydney, an ongoing investigation says. | A helicopter may have struck an eagle shortly before breaking up, crashing and killing the pilot in remote bushland north-west of Sydney, an ongoing investigation says. |
| The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) preliminary report into the Bell 206L-1 Long Ranger helicopter’s 9 July crash near Maroota includes some of the evidence the agency has collected. | The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) preliminary report into the Bell 206L-1 Long Ranger helicopter’s 9 July crash near Maroota includes some of the evidence the agency has collected. |
| “A bird strike which we have identified as being a wedge-tailed eagle has contributed in some way to this accident,” the ATSB’s chief commissioner, Angus Mitchell, said on Thursday. | “A bird strike which we have identified as being a wedge-tailed eagle has contributed in some way to this accident,” the ATSB’s chief commissioner, Angus Mitchell, said on Thursday. |
| “We have also found that the helicopter sustained an in-flight break-up,” he said. | “We have also found that the helicopter sustained an in-flight break-up,” he said. |
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| The pilot, a man in his 60s, was on a private flight from Cattai to St Albans when the helicopter crashed and was engulfed in flames. | The pilot, a man in his 60s, was on a private flight from Cattai to St Albans when the helicopter crashed and was engulfed in flames. |
| Witnesses described seeing the helicopter begin to bank sharply and pitch upward, while the sound of its rotor changed before the blades detached. | Witnesses described seeing the helicopter begin to bank sharply and pitch upward, while the sound of its rotor changed before the blades detached. |
| The helicopter was destroyed by fire after impact and the pilot who died was the only person on board. | The helicopter was destroyed by fire after impact and the pilot who died was the only person on board. |
| Parts of the aircraft were littered around the crash scene, some almost 100 metres from the main cockpit. | Parts of the aircraft were littered around the crash scene, some almost 100 metres from the main cockpit. |
| A wedge-tailed eagle carcass was found near a section of the rotor. | A wedge-tailed eagle carcass was found near a section of the rotor. |
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| Biological residue found on the exterior of the helicopter was sampled for analysis by the Australian Museum and identified along with the carcass as the eagle. | Biological residue found on the exterior of the helicopter was sampled for analysis by the Australian Museum and identified along with the carcass as the eagle. |
| Analysis and findings will be contained in a final report to be released at a later date. | Analysis and findings will be contained in a final report to be released at a later date. |
| The ATSB will analyse the recorded flight data and review aircraft documentation and maintenance as well as the pilot’s experience and qualifications before releasing its final report. | The ATSB will analyse the recorded flight data and review aircraft documentation and maintenance as well as the pilot’s experience and qualifications before releasing its final report. |