Seven years after a tragic helicopter crash claimed the life of “highly respected, skilled and prominent” pilot Roger Corbin, a coroner has delivered her findings into the accident.
The investigation brought a long-awaited sense of closure for Corbin’s family, although his wife says that “nothing’s going to bring him back”.
“For us personally it’s such a relief because it’s been hanging over our heads for nearly seven years,” Allana Corbin said.
Coroner Olivia McTaggart’s report detailed the circumstances surrounding the crash of the AS350 Squirrel helicopter at Hobart Airport during a training exercise on November 7, 2017.
The 56-page document concludes that a combination of factors contributed to the accident.
McTaggart said Corbin had 30 years of flying experience and was a prominent figure in establishing helicopter rescue operations in Tasmania, saving countless lives.
She found Corbin’s death “highlighted the concerning issues of risk surrounding a hydraulics-off landing exercise in the AS350BA Squirrel helicopter”.
“The most important learning from the circumstances of the tragic death of Mr Corbin is the critical need to closely follow the provisions of the flight manual and adopt best instructing practice for an hydraulics-off training exercise in this aircraft,” McTaggart said.
“I have no doubt that Mr Corbin, as pilot in command, would have been actively trying to save the aircraft and their lives to the extent that he could in those final seconds.”
The coroner did not make any recommendations.
Corbin’s student at the time, John Osborne, who survived the crash with injuries, described him as an “elite mentor of other pilots”.
“I was very lucky and Roger was very unlucky and that’s the nature of crashes,” he said.
“His death is a tragedy obviously for his family, in particular his kids, but it’s also a loss for the industry.”
Corbin’s daughter Isabelle, who last year touched down at her school formal in a helicopter, is now on the verge of completing her commercial helicopter licence.
“From as long as I can remember I’ve always wanted to fly,” she said.
“No one could talk me out of it. There’s pictures of me in the cockpit as a little baby.”
