‘Surprise’ over early Taipan retirement

An Airbus authoritative has revealed helium was amazed to larn the MRH-90 Taipan fleet was being retired aboriginal aft it was progressive successful a failed ngo that near 4 Australian Army officers dormant contempt an probe uncovering the craft was harmless to operate.

Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed erstwhile their Taipan ditched into the water southbound of Hamilton Island connected July 28 past year.

An autarkic enquiry into the fatal incident, headed up by erstwhile justice Margaret McMurdo, continued connected Thursday successful Brisbane.

The aircraft, with the telephone motion Bushman 83, was flying successful enactment with 3 different helicopters astir 10pm to Lindeman Island successful Queensland.

During the planned grooming mission, the craft was seen climbing abruptly earlier pitching chemoreceptor archetypal towards the h2o wherever it crashed and splintered connected impact.

The full Taipan fleet was retired aboriginal successful September 2023 – 18 months earlier its scheduled retirement.

On Thursday, the enquiry heard 75 per cent of the fleet has been dismantled since the July 2023 crash.

The Taipan’s attraction past came nether the microscope connected Thursday.

Airbus deeper attraction manager Barry Trapp gave grounds earlier the enquiry astir Airbus’ relation successful contracted attraction of the Taipan fleet.

When asked by Ms McMurdo whether the ADF determination to discontinue the Taipan fleet aboriginal came arsenic a “surprise” to Mr Trapp, the Airbus idiosyncratic replied: “Yes, ma’am”.

The enquiry heard that NATO users of the MRH90 – including Australia – had been assured the craft was harmless pursuing an probe aft the July 2023 crash.

Mr Trapp told the enquiry helium did not cognize wherefore the ADF made that determination to discontinue the fleet earlier schedule.

“I truly don’t person capable accusation to recognize what the concern is different than what I would person been told arsenic portion of the inquiry,” helium said.

The fleet had antecedently been grounded for inspection aft 1 craft was forced to ditch into the oversea astatine Jervis Bay connected the NSW southbound seashore successful March 2023 – 4 months earlier the North Queensland incident.

The Jervis Bay incidental occurred portion the service was taking portion successful counter-terrorism exercises.

The enquiry was told an probe was carried retired successful the aftermath of the Jervis Bay incidental to find the origin of the crash.

It was determined the Jervis Bay incidental was connected to a method contented which had antecedently been flagged successful a work announcement issued by the archetypal instrumentality shaper to each operators of the Taipan globally.

However, the enquiry heard conflicting grounds that this peculiar work announcement was issued successful either 2016 oregon 2018 – astatine slightest 5 years earlier the Jervis Bay incident.

Mr Trapp said the work announcement had explained “immediate enactment (required) was to alteration retired the engines”.

Mr Trapp said the 6th Aviation Regiment – wherever the 4 airmen were stationed successful Sydney – had their assigned Taipans fitted with modified engines successful accordance of the work bulletin that elaborate what needed to beryllium upgraded.

“I said that they were installed aft the Jervis Bay ditching and each the craft successful 6th Aviation Regiment would person been modified by extremity of March (to the) opening of July,” Mr Trapp said, referring to his written connection fixed to the inquiry.

Commanding Officer of the Rotary Wing Maintenance School, Lieutenant Colonel Rick Watling, gave further penetration into the work bulletin.

He told the enquiry these work bulletins would bespeak whether the announcement was “urgent” and if the existent merchandise was “unsafe”.

Lieutenant Colonel Watling said the earlier work bulletin had indicated the contented – which caused the Jervis Bay incidental – was marked “urgent” but was not marked arsenic “unsafe”.

The enquiry continues connected Friday.