Captain Danniel Lyon’s complaint about burdens went unheard before fatal Whitsunday Islands helicopter crash

A pilot’s complaint that work burdens would “ultimately kill me” went unheard by army aviation’s commander before a helicopter crash killed him and three others, an inquiry has been told.

The Australian Defence Force inquiry into the July 2023 crash continues in Brisbane before former judge Margaret McMurdo.

The crew from the 6th Aviation Regiment was flying in a night training run during the ADF’s annual Exercise Talisman Sabre alongside US forces.

Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph “Phillip” Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs died when their MRH-90 Taipan crashed into waters off Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands.

The inquiry has heard the crew was probably suffering from “hazardous fatigue”, with an aviation medicine expert saying it was “highly likely” that contributed to the crash.

Under questioning on Thursday, Major General Stephen Jobson, the former commanding officer of Army Aviation Command, agreed that significant workload was a driver of fatigue.

“Solving that fatigue metric in the workplace... it’s a never-ending commitment from command to respond, to mitigate, to prevent, act in regard to fatigue.”

Counsel assisting, Colonel Jens Streit, quoted a previous army aviation witness telling the inquiry that Captain Lyon had complained about heavy administrative burdens compromising his ability to be a pilot during a training course.

The witness gave evidence that Captain Lyon said words to the effect he “no longer had time to remain proficient and confident within the cockpit” and didn’t feel empowered to “prioritise my primary role that could ultimately kill me”.

Ms McMurdo said “the remarkable thing” about the complaint was that administrative burdens were affecting officers’ ability to be safe pilots and that it could lead to accidents and fatalities.

When asked if Captain Lyon’s complaint had been reported to him, Major Gen Jobson said: “They’re quite distinctive final words. I would recall if that was advised to me.”

Asked about the Talisman Sabre exercise in 2023, he said he was satisfied important risk controls were in place for the mission.

Major Gen Jobson told the inquiry on Wednesday the Taipans were under performing and posed an “elevated risk” to personnel.

The inquiry has heard Army Aviation was working on the “rapid replacement” of the Taipan with new US-made Black Hawk helicopters when the 2023 crash happened.

Public hearings of the inquiry will close on Friday with statements from the families of those who died in the crash.