A military helicopter produced by the European company NHINDUSTRIES was involved in a mishap during a “counter-terrorist exercise” on March 23, 2023, in Australia. While in-flight, sparks rained down from the helicopter blades, a small explosion thundered and, as a result, the aircraft fell into the water from a height of about 20 meters. The incident occurred near a beach, with all ten Australian troops on board managing to swim ashore. The helicopter was later retrieved from the water.
In the investigation of the incident, the Australian authorities put a temporary ban on flights on these helicopter models. Fresh information on the incident was recently revealed by Australian news edition ABC News. They reported that the helicopter’s service mechanics were unable to apply the latest software corrections, likely leading to the mishap. The patch, which was not installed in time, brings forced blocking of the “hot start” of the engine. This refers to restarting the engine during flight, which the MRH-90 engine is not designed for.
The patch was available for installation for many years, but was never applied to any helicopter of the Australian army. The mishap serves as a good lesson, and the military will now ensure that all their helicopters and other flight equipment are up-to-date. The incident has raised questions about whose fault it was, the pilot, mechanics, or the manufacturer.
It is important for all technology to be kept up-to-date to avoid accidents. The consequences of outdated technology, such as Microsoft Exchange’s failure, can lead to cyber attacks, though we should always strive to update systems on time to prevent dire outcomes.
The MRH-90 Taipan helicopter is used by several countries globally and has completed over 100,000 total flight hours.
| Helicopter Model | Manufacturer | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|
| MRH-90 Taipan | NHINDUSTRIES | Over 100,000 hours |