The ATSB is calling for research into the correct fitment of lifejackets while wearing aircraft multipoint seatbelts after finding that the passengers on board both helicopters involved in the 2 January 2023 midair collision at the Gold Coast were incorrectly restrained.
"The ATSB was unable to establish the level of contribution the incorrect fitment of restraints contributed to individual passenger injuries in this tragic accident," ATSB Chief Commission Angus Mitchell said.
"However, in the event of an accident we do know that the correct fitment of seatbelts improves occupant survivability outcomes."
Mr Mitchell said the ATSB investigation highlighted that the wearing of lifejackets potentially interfered with the correct fitment of the helicopters' multipoint seatbelts.
"Occupants in helicopter tourism operations worldwide are at risk of increased injury in an accident due to inadvertent incorrect use of seatbelts," he said.
"There is no readily available guidance, either from lifejacket manufacturers or regulatory authorities, regarding the correct fitment and use of constant wear lifejackets when occupants are using multipoint seatbelts."
For scenic flight helicopter operations over water, such as in the midair accident flight, regulators require that passengers wear a lifejacket in addition to their seatbelt. This is to ensure that passengers can access their lifejacket in a timely manner in the event of an emergency ditching or collision with water.
"However, an occupant must survive the impact before the use of the lifejacket will be required and therefore correct fitment of their seatbelt is vital to ensure the restraints and energy attenuating features of seats work as designed."
Most operators provide their passengers with pouch‑style constant wear lifejackets. While the lifejacket and multipoint seatbelts are commonly used together, there is no available guidance about how to integrate them while maintaining their functionality.
Manufacturer instructions for the fitment of all pouch-style constant wear lifejackets requires them to be worn around the waist and positioned at the middle of the body. However, doing so interferes with the correct fitment of a multipoint seatbelt.
"The correct fitment of any seatbelt requires the lap portion to be worn low and tight across the hips," Mr Mitchell stressed.
"In this accident the operator's ground and flight crew were not aware of how to integrate the constant wear lifejacket with seatbelts without affecting correct fitment of the seatbelt.
"This led to the inadvertent incorrect fitment of passenger seatbelts."
Mr Mitchell said the ATSB has issued a safety advisory notice calling for research and testing to develop guidance on integration of constant wear lifejackets with multipoint restraints so that operators and passengers can use these two pieces of equipment together without increased risk of harm.
"The outcomes of this research and testing would contribute to a solution for the widespread problem of inconsistent and frequently incorrect wearing of seatbelts," he said.
"Development of guidance and procedures for aircraft operators to correctly integrate constant wear lifejackets with a multipoint seatbelt will benefit passengers across helicopter tourism operations worldwide."
You can find here the safety advisory notice: Fitment of constant wear lifejackets with multipoint seatbelts
