An Oct. 21, 2014, wind shear event involving a Airbus Helicopters EC120B in western Australia underscores the importance of self-certification for fitness to fly, according to the final report released on January 27 by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

The charter mission was to pick up two marine pilots from a ship operating 24 miles northwest of Port Hedland and transfer them to Port Hedland Airport. With the two passengers on board at about 10:40 p.m., the helicopter pilot began a normal climb away from the ship, crossing over the ship’s bow. He also reported transitioning to a forward airspeed of about 15 knots, expecting that by the time he reached an altitude of 400 feet, the airspeed would be accelerating through 40 knots.

As the helicopter approached 350 feet, it encountered wind shear that the pilot initially missed because of his focus on the radar altimeter. Thus, he did not recognize a significant drop in his indicated airspeed tto about five knots. The pilot immediately applied forward cyclic and continued the climb to 1,500 feet before proceeding normally to Port Hedland.

He later told investigators he thought he missed the airspeed issue because he was not feeling well, not to mention being fatigued from a 22-hour duty day and had only two hours of sleep at the time of the incident. After landing, the pilot sought medial attention for which a doctor prescribed an antibiotic regime. The company operating the helicopter immediately reminded pilots of the importance of their responsibility to manage fatigue and rest periods to be properly prepared for duty.