A pilot killed in a helicopter crash while agricultural spraying in a remote area of New South Wales has been identified by her partner as Zoe Murdock.
The 39-year-old was spraying a rolling hill country farm near Boorawa River on December 4 when the Robinson R44 helicopter she was flying collided with terrain and was destroyed.
Her partner James O’Kane said Murdock was laid to rest on December 31, 2024.
“I think we owe it to her to get her achievements recognised at a national level, and inform the aviation industry of her passing,” he said.
O’Kane said she was “highly respected in the industry”.
He told 1News Murdock was originally from Western Australia and had flown agricultural operations in Otago and Hawke’s Bay for the past four years.
“She was in New South Wales for just a week,” he said. “I thought it might have hit home — given she was the first and only woman to hold, and be an active agricultural helicopter pilot in both New Zealand and Australia,” he said.
O’Kane said he had been out to the crash site and spoken with Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators about what had occurred.
Bureau investigation ongoing
On its website, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it had opened an investigation following the collision with terrain involving Robinson Helicopter Co R44 II, VH‑XIX, about 50km east of Young Airport, New South Wales, on December 4.
The bureau confirmed that during aerial spraying operations, the helicopter collided with terrain and was destroyed.
“The pilot sustained fatal injuries,” the agency said.
“The ATSB deployed a team of transport safety investigators to the accident site with experience in aircraft engineering and maintenance.”
As part of the evidence gathering phase, investigators would examine the aircraft wreckage and other information from the accident site, examine operator procedures, interview witnesses and any involved parties, and examine maintenance records and any recorded data.
A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken,” the agency said.