• MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter being moved from the hangar to the flight deck onboard HMAS Canberra during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Credit: Defence
    MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter being moved from the hangar to the flight deck onboard HMAS Canberra during Exercise Talisman Sabre. Credit: Defence
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Updated 24 July, 13:07

The ADF's MRH-90 Multi-Role helicopter fleet has been grounded following an incident involving RAN's 808 Squadron at HMAS Albatross. 

Reports in ACM media titles cite a tail rotor vibration detected during a flight to Brisbane on July 11, which forced an MRH-90 to land on HMAS Adelaide as a precaution.

"An Australian Army MRH-90 aircraft conducted a precautionary landing on HMAS Adelaide on 11 July 2019," a Defence spokesperson confirmed to ADM. 

"The MRH-90 aircraft sustained a tail rotor vibration en route to Brisbane Airport. The aircraft captain aborted the mission and returned to HMAS Adelaide for a precautionary landing. No personnel were injured.

"The full circumstances that led to the precautionary landing are under investigation. While the investigation is underway, the ADF has ceased all MRH-90 flying pending further technical investigation and advice."

"No other ADF aircraft have been affected by this temporary cessation."

The MRH-90 helicopters were highlighted as a 'project of concern' in the ANAO's 2017-2018 Major Projects report, with 89 months of project slippage. The MRH-90s suffered the greatest in-year setback, delaying FOC by another 29 months.

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