Pilot error blamed for 2006 Australian helicopter crash off Fiji
Updated
![The Black Hawk helicopter crashed while trying to land on HMAS Kanimbla in 2006. [ABC]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/aus_blackhawk_abc_file.jpg "The Black Hawk helicopter crashed while trying to land on HMAS Kanimbla in 2006. [ABC]")
The Black Hawk helicopter crashed while trying to land on HMAS Kanimbla in 2006. [ABC]
An inquiry into a fatal Australian Black Hawk helicopter crash off the coast of Fiji almost two years ago has found pilot error was to blame.
Captain Mark Bingley and Trooper Joshua Porter died and eight other soldiers were injured when the Black Hawk helicopter crashed while trying to land on HMAS Kanimbla in 2006.
A board of inquiry report found Captain Bingley had erred while making a difficult landing, and listed excessive speed as a factor.
The report was critical of safety standards within Captain Bingley's squadron, and the lack of supervision and effective leadership of pilots.
The Chief of the Defence Force Angus Houston says the `can do' attitude within the squadron led pilots to take greater risks.
"This led to an erosion of safety standards," he said.
Air Marshal Houston says he will conduct regular audits of safety standards within the squadron.
