A Bankstown helicopter company operated both the helicopter that crashed at Bulli Tops today, killing four people, and the chopper involved in a fatal accident at Jaspers Brush last year.
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Bankstown Helicopters, operating from Bankstown Airport, was home to both helicopters VH-COK, which crashed on February 4, killing two well-known film-makers, and VH-HWQ that came down this afternoon.
The helicopters were both Robinson R44 models, used for joyflights and private charters.
Four people were killed just after midday when the helicopter came down in a grass clearing near Panorama House function centre.
An Air Services Australia spokesperson confirmed the chopper had been flying outside controlled air space and was operating under a ‘‘see and avoid’’ regime.
Film producer Andrew Wight, a close friend of Titanic director James Cameron, and fellow filmmaker Mike DeGruy were killed when their chopper crashed and burst into flames on February 4 last year.
The pair were flying from Jaspers Brush, near Berry, to Jervis Bay, scouting locations for an upcoming movie when the helicopter’s tailskid struck the ground.
The chopper then lurched forward and rolled before it hit the ground and was engulfed by flames.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed last year that it was investigating whether the helicopter had been modified to reduce the risk of fire.
Investigators from the bureau were also set to attend today's crash scene.
