EMERGENCY services descended on Hawks Nest’s Bennetts Beach last Friday after debris was found in the search for a missing helicopter reportedly carrying 54-year-old Jindabyne man Ed Kraft and his dog.

According to NSW Police, the helicopter departed Cessnock at about 8.50am on Thursday 26 October bound for a property at either Wallis Island, near Forster, or Belmore River, near Kempsey.

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When the helicopter did not arrive at either location, officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were later notified and commenced inquiries.

Investigators began conducting an extensive land and sea search around the Port Stephens area, with assistance from Marine Area Command, Police Rescue, NSW SES, Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Surf Life Saving NSW.
As part of inquiries, police examined debris located on Bennetts Beach to establish if it was from the missing aircraft.

Emergency services utilised the Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Surf Life Saving Club as an operational base.

Members of the NSW SES Stroud Unit and Port Stephens Unit completed an extensive search of the sand.

“A ‘Line Search’ pattern was used to conduct the search on foot, north from the Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Surf Life Saving Club, for approximately three kilometres,” a NSW SES Stroud Unit spokesperson said.

“We were supported by the NSW SES Mid North Coast Local Commander who provided liaison and communications.

“A number of items of interest were located between the waterline and dunes which were collected by Police for examination.”

The search continued in earnest the following day until the Robinson R66 single-engine turbine helicopter was located on Saturday afternoon in waters off Yacaaba Headland by NSW Police with the assistance of Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) transport safety investigators.

As of Monday, the bodies of the pilot and his dog are still to be found.

The ATSB has since commenced an investigation, deploying a team of four transport safety investigators with expertise in aircraft operations and maintenance to the area.

They have commenced a range of evidence-gathering activities, including examination of recovered components, interviewing involved parties and witnesses, obtaining and reviewing relevant recorded information including flight tracking data and CCTV footage, and collecting pilot and aircraft maintenance records, plus weather information.

Among the recovered items is the helicopter’s cockpit video camera, which investigators will analyse at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.

The ATSB currently anticipates publishing a preliminary report, which will detail factual information established during the investigation’s initial evidence collection phase, in approximately six to eight weeks.

The ATSB will then publish a final report, detailing contributing factors and any identified safety issues, at the conclusion of the investigation.

As investigations continue, anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

By Doug CONNOR