On-site aspects of a major aircraft accident investigation

This paper describes the background to a major accident involving a Royal Australian Navy helicopter, and discusses the scientific and technical aspects involved in the on-site accident investigation. This particular investigation was a particularly complex one which highlights a number of difficulties involved in conducting technical investigations in a remote location, and the paper will focus on describing the broad progress of the on-site investigation while highlighting the key issues and those where it was possible to overcome major hurdles and reach sound conclusions.